The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission says it has drawn up guidelines on the utilisation of the COVID-19 relief funds.
In a statement on Wednesday, the ICPC said it derides its power from Section 6 (b)-(d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 in designing the guidelines.
The statement read, “Salient among the several provisions of the guidelines are the Bank Accounts Policy which allows the Chairman of the PTF (Presidential Task Force on COVID-19) the discretion to designate bank accounts solely for the collection of funds and donations as well as a specific bank account that receipts are swept into for expenditure whose signatories, though appointed by the Chairman, PTF shall not have approving powers.
“Reconciliation of the accounts and books maintained shall be submitted to the PTF Chairman monthly.
“Also, there is the Expenditures and Payments provision which requires payments to vendors, suppliers and ad hoc staff to be mainly by bank transfer after they have made supplies or rendered service in order to leave trails.
“Furthermore, the responsibility for procurements rests on the shoulders of the PTF Chairman, and all such procurements are required to adhere to the provisions of Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act 2007 in the emergency period.
“Additionally, all post-COVID procurements must comply fully with the comprehensive provisions of the procurement law.”
According to the statement, the guidelines also recommended that all cash advances should be subjected to the Financial Regulations and Public Service Rules.
The body added that petty cash advances might be made to an officer for petty cash transactions as approved by the PTF Chairman.
However, the anti-corruption agency said the guidelines won’t apply to donations from the private sector unless given to the PTF to manage.
