ICPC to verify constituency projects in states

by Yusuf Alli, Abuja


Investigators are hitting the road today in search of lawmakers’ N900b constituency projects in states.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is verifying constituency projects executed by immediate past senators and members of the House of Representatives.

The commission said it will make recoveries on projects/contracts confirmed to have been inflated or in which contractors underperformed or did not perform at all.

To be verified are 180 key projects in the 36 states at the rate of five per state.

The probe covers projects between 2015 and 2018 embarked upon by members of the 8th National Assembly.

About 2, 516 projects were tracked between 2015 and 2017. Of the lot, 918 were not done, 395 ongoing and 214 cannot be located.

According to a document released by the spokesperson for the commission, Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, the first phase will be conducted in 12 states.

The states are: Kogi and Benue (North-Central); Adamawa and Bauchi (North-East); Sokoto and Kano (North-West); Imo and Enugu (South-East); Lagos and Osun (South-West); and Akwa Ibom and Edo (South-South).

Okoduwa said members of the Steering Committee of the investigation/ verification team were drawn from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, “Premium Times”, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), the Public and Private Development Centre, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the Community for Peace & Corrupt-free Society and BudgIT.

The document said: “The first phase of the exercise is to commence in 12 states across the six geo-political zones of the country from Tuesday. At least five projects have been identified for tracking in each state.

“Site visits in each state by the tracking team will involve ICPC and representatives of other members of the Steering Committee as well as a competent officer from the executing agency for each project.

The tracking teams is to:

1) investigate fraudulent procurement practices in the award of contracts for constituency projects and other projects with potential to impact the lives of ordinary Nigerians;

2) monitor in collaboration with critical stakeholders, the implementation of constituency projects from inception to completion;

3) make recoveries on projects/contracts confirmed to have been inflated or in which contractors underperformed or did not perform at all;

4) Track contracting companies for all statutory regulatory compliance, including, among others but not limited to, tax obligations.

The ICPC listed expected outcomes as improved delivery of social welfare services to the citizens; value for money in execution of public projects; increased performance of the Commission’s enforcement mandate; enhanced collaboration between the Commission, CSOs and the media; increase in the quality and quantity of shared information/intelligence; increase in recovery of public funds; and improved opportunity for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, gave a three-year breakdown of the projects done by the lawmakers.

He said: “The level of implementation of constituency projects in 16 focus states for 2015 is revealing. Out of 436 constituency projects for the year that were tracked, 145 were completed, 77 ongoing while 211 were not executed at all.

“For 2016, out of a total of 852 constituency projects in 20 states in the 2016 Budget that were tracked, 350 were completed, 118 were ongoing, 41 locations not specified in the budget and 343 not done or performed.

“In 2017, a total of 1,228 constituency projects in the budget were tracked for performance as at June 2018. Out of these, 478 were completed, 173 in unspecified location, 200 ongoing, 13 abandoned and 364 not started. The level of performance of constituency projects is therefore disputable.”

He said constituency projects had been turned into avenues of corruption.

Owasanoye added: “Constituency projects are intended to be developmental, such as provision of water, rural electrification, rural clinics, schools, community centres and bursary for indigent students.

“In the light of annual budgetary allocations to constituency projects and based on actual releases by the government, it is firmly believed that the impact of constituency projects on the lives of ordinary Nigerians ought to be more visible.

“Regrettably, available statistics from open sources paint a bleak picture of the level of performance or delivery of constituency projects.

“Over the years, constituency projects have become enmeshed in controversy among non-state actors, the promoters of the projects and the communities that are supposed to benefit from the projects.

“The concern is that in Nigeria, rather than address the needs of constituents, many constituency projects have become avenues of corruption.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/n900b-probe-senators-reps-to-return-fake-projects-funds/

The matter still no go get head. By the time they frustrate ICPC using the existing laws to fight ICPC and in addition, they use their best weapon which is to cry of which-hunting.and the gullibles will be like, Buhari is a dictator, a terrorist, a kunnu sipping, burukutu drinker, goro chewing, Fulani cow master under Tinubu the afonja lord of brown roof of amala and ewedugerian hydraulic ofe nmanu of ogbomosho.

About 2, 516 projects were tracked between 2015 and 2017. Of the lot, 918 were not done, 395 ongoing and 214 cannot be located.

This matter will still be swept under the carpet and nothing will be done as usual.

Una good morning oooo... Day don break for NL



Work don commence

This is what to do. ICPC should have completed these investigation before going to press so as not to undermine their investigation.
The truth is that most National legislators have regarded the contituency project as part of their personal allowance and the projects are largely not executed.

Good

starbuck:
Una good morning oooo... Day don break for NL



Work don commence

morning o

This people no dey sleep?

Funny country.

Welcome development

Zanotee:


This matter will still be swept under the carpet and nothing will be done as usual.

I don't know. For once, I believe this to be real. And if so, Buhari may be just what this country needs afterall

This news gladens the heart.
Even if prosecution is not assured, there is happiness that corruption is being challenged.

olaolaking:
The matter still no go get head. By the time they frustrate ICPC using the existing laws to fight ICPC and in addition, they use their best weapon which is to cry of which-hunting.and the gullibles will be like, Buhari is a dictator, a terrorist, a kunnu sipping, burukutu drinker, goro chewing, Fulani cow master under Tinubu the afonja lord of brown roof of amala and ewedugerian hydraulic ofe nmanu of ogbomosho.

Olodo, you never complete am. Add head slammer Herdsmen patron and yoruba Muslim fulani slave join to complete the circle of wailing.

I hope they are able to follow through. No more business as usual

Initial gra gar.

Initial gra gar

If they can actually follow up on this to the latter of the law heads go roll oh

jeffizy:
This news gladens the heart.
Even if prosecution is not assured, there is happiness that corruption is being challenged.

This is just tales by moonlight with nothing to benefit the average Joe on the street.

#900 BILLION NAIRA?!


A New Sherrif is in town.

Times 100 of this amount was stolen and swept under the carpet by the thieves before Buhari became President.

Monies that would have developed our nation and make us the best country in Africa.

We thank God for giving us this great man as President.
The best president in the history of Nigeria.

More of this kinda news to come.
All criminals must be locked up no matter who they are.
Nigeria must be great again.

mctfopt:


This is just tales by moonlight with nothing to benefit the average Joe on the street.

That is why your politicians will continue to steal your future and that of your unborn kids away.
Just imagine this one mentality!
Shame.

starbuck:
Una good morning oooo... Day don break for NL



Work don commence

Lol! Which work be that?

peacettw:


I don't know. For once, I believe this to be real. And if so, Buhari may be just what this country needs afterall

This is Interesting!

Lifestone:
This is what to do. ICPC should have completed these investigation before going to press so as not to undermine their investigation.
The truth is that most National legislators have regarded the contituency project as part of their personal allowance and the projects are largely not executed.

No! If they had done it secretly people will accuse them of witchhunt. This is good! Everyone knows when it's their time. They just don't need to let states know which projects they'd be checking, at least not too soon. Nigeria! buda hails us if this goes ahead! It will expose the dirty legislators and I can't wait for them to expose Aregbe and his O-Stealing!

Next Level Next Level!

We always have good intentions but implementation of our good intentions is always the problem. I just pray we are able to carry this through thoroughly to the end. May God bless our country.

It will actually be very good if this works

Laudable as this initiative is, we call for their activities to be open to public scrutiny due to the endemic and cancerous scale of corruption in this country. Nigeria is fantastically corrupt and this may only serve as opportunity for members of these bodies to grab their own loot share! Trust no agency!
The activities and interim reports must remain within public domain. Contacts for whistle blowing must be conspicuous. No one should toy with our intelligence anymore!

there was a country with so much money

Cart before the horse is a bad idea..your investigation supposed to have finish....and the likes of Sarakie,Dino could have cut pants down.. but Court order would surface to protect them..and other super laws....

shineeye1:
Laudable as this initiative is, we call for their activities to be open to public scrutiny due to the endemic and cancerous scale of corruption in this country. Nigeria is fantastically corrupt and this may only serve as opportunity for members of these bodies to grab their own loot share! Trust no agency!
The activities and interim reports must remain within public domain. Contacts for whistle blowing must be conspicuous. No one should toy with our intelligence anymore!

We must stare our eyes on them too and not just expect them to be honest about it. We cannot trust them!