Malnutrition Crisis:  Bauchi Assembly Probes Alleged Misappropriation Of RUTF Funds

From Paul Orude Bauchi

The Bauchi State House of Assembly has commenced immediate investigation of alleged misappropriation of Ready To Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) meant for malnourished children amidst overwhelming surge of malnutrition cases in the state.

The lawmakers expressed aghast with the alleged misappropriation against the backdrop of report of 23,000 cases of severe malnutrition recorded in the State between January and June this year — a 120 percent increase over the same period a year before.

Reacting to the alleged misappropriation discovered in the state budget performance report of 2024 to the House, the lawmakers promised not to leave any stone unturned to get to the root of the alleged fraud.

Speaker Hon Sulieman Leads Members to Probe Alleged Misappropriation of RUTF Funds

The lawmakers made this known in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day meeting with the Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination to discuss adequate budgetary allocation and release for nutrition and other primary health care services.

The meeting, held at Elim Suit Hotel, Jos, on February 18 and 19, was organised by the State Ministry of Budget and Planning in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and other partners, was attended by all the 31 lawmakers led by the Speaker, Honourable Abubakar Suleiman.

The troubling data showing numerous children in the state at risk of death is coming even as UNICEF says malnutrition is the direct or underlying cause of 45 percent of all deaths in Nigeria of children under the age of five.

Bauchi Legislators During the Meeting In Jos Where They Resolve To Probe RUTF Funds

The lawmakers, in the communique, expressed regret that Bauchi remained one of the states with a high burden of malnutrition and an increasing rate of stunting among children under five years old, despite various government initiatives.

They then directed the House Committee on Food Security and Nutrition, and the House Committee on Public Accounts to commence immediate investigation of RUTF funds meant for the malnourished children to prevent future occurrence.

The Communique, signed by the 31 state lawmakers, also observed, among others, a pressing need to increase budgetary allocations for nutrition programming within the state among others.

They directed the House Committee on Food Security and Nutrition, House Committee on Health and House Committee on Appropriation to work with relevant House Committees towards creation of a budget line for Nutrition activities across relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The lawmakers also directed the two House Committees to work with relevant committees to increase the budgetary provision for Nutrition activities general in the state

“The House Committee on Public Service should liaise with development partners to ensure necessary legislation on the extension of paid maternity leave from three to six months with a view to giving our nursing mothers adequate time to exclusively breastfeed their children,” the communique stated.

“The House Committee on Local Government Affairs to liaise with the Hon Commissioner of Local Government Affairs for the establishment of a joint committee of representatives of the louse and the Chairmen of Local Government Councils where regular monitoring, supervision, and discussions with a view to mobilize additional adequate and effective funding of nutrition activities in the state

“The House Committee on Local Government Affairs to ensure the creation of nutrition budget line across 20 LGAs of the state.

“The House Committees on Local Government Affairs, Food security & Nutrition and Health to liaise with the Hon Commissioner of Local Government Affairs to follow up with Local Government Chairmen on procurement of functional hemoglobin testing machines across Primary Health Care facilities without functional hemoglobin machines”