MANAGEMENT TRANSPARENCY AND COVID-19 PALLIATIVES MANAGEMENT: THE NIGERIA INSIGHT

Abstract

The outbreak of novel corona virus indeed exposed government management deficiency in all spheres. The transparent management of government resources for the public good though an essential component of public sector integrity as imperative is usually evidently jeopardized during crisis situations. Analysis of state responses to the COVID-19 pandemic palliatives management demonstrates that lack of public sector management transparency hampers governments’ preparedness, resilience and capacity to provide social security and contain the spread of a virus. Worried by the circumstances surrounding the transparent management of palliatives to cushion the effects of the hardship occasioned by the covid-19 pandemic, this paper takes an insightful look at the Nigerian situation and the challenges surrounding palliatives distribution management. The design is qualitative drawing significantly from documented sources and personal observation. The paper identified a number of factors that hindered effective management transparency in Covid-19 palliatives management as pursuit of the personal political interests and agenda of public authorities, partisan considerations, lack of systematic database on poor and vulnerable Nigerians, systemic corruption, greed and insensitivity on the part of politicians and public office holders. The paper therefore recommends need for the governments both at state and national levels to create a sustainable database of vulnerable Nigerians to ensure a more coordinated and efficient crisis management going forward, relevant laws needs to be put in place to ensure that partisan considerations do not take overriding consideration in situations requiring the well being of Nigerians in time of pandemic, need for more public awareness on the policies, programs and activities of government in line with the freedom of information law already in place, sanctions should be prescribed under the law for public officials who convert palliatives meant for the vulnerable to private use or for profit motives and strengthening oversight functions to ensure effective, efficient and transparent management of all government programs.