The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has kicked tracking of constituency projects in 22 states worth N610 billion.
This is contained in a release signed by the commission’s Director of Public Relations and Education, Mr Demola Bakare, made available to newsmen, on Wednesday.
Recall that C-Advocate, in a series of articles on anti-corruption, recently called out the ICPC , calling attention to its oversight function in relation to Zonal Intervention Projects in Imo state.
C-Advocate therefore commends the ICPC for following up on our call for prompt action to ensure that funds made for constituency projects are judiciously used.
Bakare said that the exercise will focus on how well money allocated to critical sectors of education, health, agriculture, water resources and power amongst others, by the government are utilized.
He said it will involve 1,500 projects in 22 states across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
The states are Kwara, Niger, Kogi, FCT, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Abia and Enugu.
“ The tracking exercise will cut across agencies of government including intervention agencies such as North-East Development Commission (NEDC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA).
“ Others are Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Rural Electrification Agency (REA), National Primary Health Care Development Authority (NPHCDA), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Ecological Fund Office.
“ The objective of the exercise is to deepen adherence to due process in the execution of government projects, improve value for money, and entrench the culture of compliance with the scope and specification as contained in the contract documents “, he said.
