The Federal Government has announced an investigation into allegations of fraud in the disbursement of the N2.67 billion meant for feeding subsidy for Unity secondary schools’ students in the country during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu ordered the probe following a report by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) that the sum of N2.67 billion released to the unity colleges during the COVID-19 lockdown found its way into individual accounts.

These were contained in a statement from the Federal Ministry of Education, through its Director, Press and Public Relations, Ben Bem Goong, Tuesday, said the minister said his ministry would collaborate with the ICPC on the unity schools’ investigation.

The statement read: “Following the report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) that the sum of N2.67 billion released to the 104 Unity Colleges during the COVID-19 lockdown for meal subsidies found its way into individual accounts, Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter.

“In response to queries issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, the Principals explained that payments on meal subsidies to Unity Colleges on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, (GIFMIS) platform is designed to accommodate individual officers of those colleges who are officially recognized to receive such payments and disburse same to food vendors.

“This followed difficulties encountered by farmers, local food vendors, and market women who do not have Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), PENCOM, and other requirements to access the payment platform”, the statement added.