Every legislative year, the National Assembly rolls out what has come to be called Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs), also known as constituency projects.
ZIPs are initiatives aimed at promoting grassroots development and improving service delivery in Nigerian communities.
These projects serve several important purposes: Community Development ZIPs are designed to bring development directly to local communities across Nigeria.
They typically focus on key sectors such as education, water resources, agriculture, power, and health.
By implementing projects such as classroom blocks, primary healthcare facilities, boreholes, and market stalls, ZIPs aim to address the basic needs of constituents and improve their quality of life.
However, it’s important to note that the implementation of ZIPs has faced challenges. Issues such as project duplication, mismanagement of funds, and lack of needs assessment have been identified, with corruption raising its ugly head.
In Imo state, a lot many ZIPs have been awarded, as is seen in other states of the federation, but most of them have remained moribund, especially since 2013.
This report seeks to shed light the on the project with the project code 2021ZIP0838, the construction of three classroom blocks.
Three years ago, approval came for the construction of three classroom blocks with toilets in Akwakuma town, Owerri North council area of Imo and the contract, from the Federal Ministry of Education, was awarded to the National Population Commission.
Most unfortunately, this project has remained abandoned with a projected cost of N16 million, even as funds have been fully disbursed.
Down to this day this ZIP , which should have ready competed long before now, has remained a mirage.
Children who shouldn’t have benefited from the project have lost out.
Recall that one month ago, C-Advocate called out the management of the Akwakuma health centre and the Imo government over the dearth of toilet and water facilities.
We therefore call on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) who already instituted tracking exercises to ensure accountability and transparency in the implementation of ZIPs to step in for appropriate action.
ICPC’s oversight should help to engender value for money in government project implementation, sustain impactful governance at the local level and provide opportunities for grassroots communities to demand accountability and root out corruption.
There is undeniably a great need for continued oversight and improvement in the execution of ZIPs to ensure they truly benefit the intended communities.
Only then can Nigerians the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
