About N3.76 billion of the N100 billion allocated for Zonal Intervention Projects in the 2019 budget are opaque and “at the risk of being stolen.”

This was stated by the anti-corruption agency, ICPC, in a report titled “BREAKDOWN OF 2019 ZONAL INTERVENTION PROJECTS (ZIP) ALLOCATIONS.”

The ZIPs, also called constituency projects, are nominated by lawmakers who propose them during the annual budget review. The projects are then inserted into the budgets of relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

However, these projects are often enmeshed in corruption, and President Muhammadu Buhari last week lamented that despite the appropriation of over N1 trillion for these projects in the past ten years, there was nothing tangible to show for them.

About N100 billion were appropriated for the ZIPs in 2019.

In its report, the ICPC categorised the opaque appropriations into Empowerment (N26.1 billion) and Capacity Building (N9.3 billion).

“These empowerment projects are so opaque that it is difficult to track them,” the ICPC chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye told journalists Thursday morning while speaking about his agency’s report.

Mr Owasanoye explained that his agency was reviewing the constituency projects to ensure they were more transparent and efficient.

Speaking on the shady appropriations within the ZIPs, the law professor said his agency “could not find what projects they are meant for.”
He, however, said his agency has “flagged” these appropriations and “believe that money will not be released” for them.

Lagos most guilty

According to the report, ZIPs meant for Lagos State have the highest of these ‘opaque’ appropriations with N1 billion of the N3.2 billion proposed for the state in that category.

Lagos is closely followed by Cross River where lawmakers proposed N632 million opaque projects of the total N1.6 billion ZIPs for the state.

Some of the states where lawmakers proposed little or no ‘opaque’ constituency projects, according to the ICPC, include Niger, Enugu, Anambra, Edo and Yobe.

Mr Owasanoye said in monitoring these constituency projects, his agency worked with lawmakers and the relevant MDAs. He said his agency was not concerned about the politics of the ZIPs but about ensuring that communities get value for the money spent on such projects.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the ICPC had earlier made recommendations on how to ensure the ZIPs are more efficient.

One of the recommendations was that “government should not accept new projects in a particular constituency if there are existing underfunded projects in that constituency. Existing projects must be completed before the introduction of new ones.”

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/365607-n3-76-billion-inserted-in-2019-budget-at-the-risk-of-being-stolen-icpc.html

Sai Baba


Abacha dey learn work

Some mofos will still come here to say Baba has integrity.
A whole whopping sum of N3.7B will be diverted into their personal pocket at the expense of the masses.
Can Nigeria ever get better?

Next level things.

Big budget

Fela Kuti don sing am all

Democracy

I dedicate this FP to those politicians who are warming up to take off with the money.... [color=#000099][/color]

F

I have something to say, but I don't want to die by Hanging, so let me just pass.

Democracy especially the house of assembly in this country is a joke!!! Hope one day our rulers called leaders will not steal and ended up stealing their own money from their personal account when there is nothing left to steal from the people!!

Better, every money spent must be accounted for.

This apc Government Na pack it all regime oo!

PapaBaby:
Sai Baba


Abacha dey learn work

2019 budget was the era of Saraki/Dogara. Hope that helps with your wailing.

That was 8th senate under the leadership of Saraki

[s]

helinues:
That was 8th senate under the leadership of Saraki

[/s]
Saraki is the best senate president since democracy

signature2012:
Some mofos will still come here to say Baba has integrity.
A whole whopping sum of N3.7B will be diverted into their personal pocket at the expense of the masses.
Can Nigeria ever get better?

I guess you only read the topic

signature2012:
Some mofos will still come here to say Baba has integrity.
A whole whopping sum of N3.7B will be diverted into their personal pocket at the expense of the masses.
Can Nigeria ever get better?

Under your hero Omo baba Oloye Bukola Saraki..

Read , digest before rushing to comments

hmmmm

Jokers all over

sammyj:
Democracy especially the house of assembly in this country is a joke!!! Hope one day our rulers called leaders will not steal and ended up stealing their own money from their personal account when there is nothing left to steal from the people!!

how about the executive led by Mr self acclaimed integrity?

Na our work oooo