The House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and Tuberculosis has given the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, and the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, 72 hours ultimatum to appear before it over allegations of the misappropriation of $300 million meant to tackle malaria.
The committee also expressed its dissatisfaction with the absence of the Permanent Secretary and warned of potential arrest should she fail to comply after being summoned three times.
The Chairman of the Committee, Amoebi Ogah, while issuing the summon, fumed at the action of the permanent secretary, stating that the committee would not tolerate such actions from civil servants.
“The National Assembly will no longer tolerate the attitude of civil servants taking parliament for a ride. Enough is enough. We are elected by our people to represent them. We are elected to talk for them and defend them. And we are talking about a disease that has turned into an epidemic.
“We will not hesitate to invoke our constitutional right to compel the Permanent Secretary to be arrested if fails to honor the summons,” he warned.
SOURCE: PUNCH HEALTHWISE
