ICPC Warns Against Project Duplication

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) has warned against project duplication.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, gave the
warning at a Policy Dialogue on Corruption and Cost of Governance
in Nigeria, hosted by the ICPC in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Owasanoye said that thousands of projects were repeated annually
in the budget, without diligent scrutiny of need, implementation,
or otherwise.

He added that some projects were duplicated as annual zonal
intervention projects, otherwise called constituency projects of
the legislature, while also featuring as projects of the
executive.

“Funding is released for both insertions without any mechanism
for monitoring and evaluation and reconciliation of the funding,”
he said.

Owasanoye cited the recent case of a road project executed by
the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) as part of its
Corporate Social Responsibility, but was also awarded as an
executive project.

He said the incident rightly became the subject of an inquiry by
the legislature.

“ICPC’s response to this challenge is not only to track selected
projects, but we annually digitise executive and constituency
projects and upload same on our website for citizen verification,
through our toll free line.

“The breakdown of projects for 2021 has already been uploaded on
our website and we encourage the public to become watchdogs of
projects in their communities.

“We are working with the budget office to track funding of such
projects as we prepare for our 2021 tracking of constituency and
executive projects, ” he said.

According to the ICPC boss, the second area of concern was
payroll padding and the phenomenon of ghost workers and abuse of
recruitment.

He further explained that from ICPC findings in health and
medical institutions, a lot of agencies still engaged in unapproved
recruitment without obtaining the consent of all relevant organs of
government.

Owasanoye said it appeared that such malfeasance enjoyed the
cooperation of some unscrupulous elements in the IPPIS.

“Happily, government is looking closely at this towards taking
corrective measures. ICPC is a part of that process, ” he said.

Prof. Tunde Babawale, Acting Provost, Anti-corruption Academy of
Nigeria (ACAN), said Nigerians across board were uncomfortable with
the ever-increasing cost of governance that the country had
historically experienced.

He said research findings had shown that corruption had been a
major cause of the ballooning cost of governance in Nigeria.

“The essence of the policy dialogue is to exchange ideas with
key stakeholders, with a view to finding a common ground and
consensus on the policy matter being discussed.

READ ALSO: ‘We are not part of you’, Wike sends serious warning
to IPOB
“The dialogue will address this critical issue and analyse it as
part of efforts to assist the commission and its academy to achieve
the objectives outlined in the National Anti-Corruption Strategy
(NACS).

“This includes the promotion of an improved legal, policy and
regulatory environment for the fight against corruption, ” he
said.

He said that there was near consensus among Nigerians that the
country would make significant progress, if the wasteful practices
of public officials could be curbed.

On his part, Mr Ben Akabueze, Director-General, Budget Office of
the Federation, in his presentation entitled: “Reducing the Cost of
Governance in Nigeria ” said that Nigeria’s system of democratic
governance was considered to be very expansive and expensive.

“It is important to minimise corruption and reduce cost of
governance in Nigeria on which critical steps need to be taken.

“We need to prioritise the completion of ongoing projects, to
enable us reap the benefits of such projects and save variation
costs, including projects that relate to matters that are the
responsibilities of the state and local governments, ” he said.
(NAN)

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) has warned against project duplication.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, gave the
warning at a Policy Dialogue on Corruption and Cost of Governance
in Nigeria, hosted by the ICPC in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Owasanoye said that thousands of projects were repeated annually
in the budget, without diligent scrutiny of need, implementation,
or otherwise.

He added that some projects were duplicated as annual zonal
intervention projects, otherwise called constituency projects of
the legislature, while also featuring as projects of the
executive.

“Funding is released for both insertions without any mechanism
for monitoring and evaluation and reconciliation of the funding,”
he said.

Owasanoye cited the recent case of a road project executed by
the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) as part of its
Corporate Social Responsibility, but was also awarded as an
executive project.

He said the incident rightly became the subject of an inquiry by
the legislature.

“ICPC’s response to this challenge is not only to track selected
projects, but we annually digitise executive and constituency
projects and upload same on our website for citizen verification,
through our toll free line.

“The breakdown of projects for 2021 has already been uploaded on
our website and we encourage the public to become watchdogs of
projects in their communities.

“We are working with the budget office to track funding of such
projects as we prepare for our 2021 tracking of constituency and
executive projects, ” he said.

According to the ICPC boss, the second area of concern was
payroll padding and the phenomenon of ghost workers and abuse of
recruitment.

He further explained that from ICPC findings in health and
medical institutions, a lot of agencies still engaged in unapproved
recruitment without obtaining the consent of all relevant organs of
government.

Owasanoye said it appeared that such malfeasance enjoyed the
cooperation of some unscrupulous elements in the IPPIS.

“Happily, government is looking closely at this towards taking
corrective measures. ICPC is a part of that process, ” he said.

Prof. Tunde Babawale, Acting Provost, Anti-corruption Academy of
Nigeria (ACAN), said Nigerians across board were uncomfortable with
the ever-increasing cost of governance that the country had
historically experienced.

He said research findings had shown that corruption had been a
major cause of the ballooning cost of governance in Nigeria.

“The essence of the policy dialogue is to exchange ideas with
key stakeholders, with a view to finding a common ground and
consensus on the policy matter being discussed.

READ ALSO: ‘We are not part of you’, Wike sends serious warning
to IPOB
“The dialogue will address this critical issue and analyse it as
part of efforts to assist the commission and its academy to achieve
the objectives outlined in the National Anti-Corruption Strategy
(NACS).

“This includes the promotion of an improved legal, policy and
regulatory environment for the fight against corruption, ” he
said.

He said that there was near consensus among Nigerians that the
country would make significant progress, if the wasteful practices
of public officials could be curbed.

On his part, Mr Ben Akabueze, Director-General, Budget Office of
the Federation, in his presentation entitled: “Reducing the Cost of
Governance in Nigeria ” said that Nigeria’s system of democratic
governance was considered to be very expansive and expensive.

“It is important to minimise corruption and reduce cost of
governance in Nigeria on which critical steps need to be taken.

“We need to prioritise the completion of ongoing projects, to
enable us reap the benefits of such projects and save variation
costs, including projects that relate to matters that are the
responsibilities of the state and local governments, ” he said.
(NAN)