ICPC Tracks 1,251 Constituency Projects In 17 States, FCT

*Kicks off phase 3 of constituency, executive projects
tracking

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC), on Tuesday, announced the commencement of Phase
3 of the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Exercise.

According to a statement signed by the commission’s
spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, and made available to newsmen in
Abuja, the tracking of the constituency and executive projects was
an initiative of the commission that began in 2019.

The exercise focuses on how well money allocated to critical
sectors of education, health, agriculture, water resources and
power amongst others by the government were utilized.

ICPC said the first phase of the exercise was held in 2019 in 12
states and the FCT and saw the tracking of 524 projects, saying the
second phase in 2020 had about 822 projects tracked in 16
states.

It said the first two phases led to the recovery of assets worth
billions of naira to the government, return of equipment to
communities for whom they were meant.

The statement further said about 300 contractors returned to
sites and completed hitherto shoddily done or abandoned projects,
adding that the exercise led to the revelation that some projects
were excellently and completely executed.

It said the commission was following up the first two phases of
the projects with the community sensitization and enlightenment
programme, receipt, and handling of enquiries on the toll-free
number (0800-CALL-ICPC/0800-2255-4272) and info@icpc.gov.ng.

The commission stated that some cases of diversion of project
funds from the first two phases were being investigated.

“Phase three of the constituency and executive projects tracking
exercise is slated to take place in 17 states – Katsina, Kano,
Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Plateau and Kogi. Others are Benue, Ondo,
Osun, Lagos, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Edo, Anambra and Imo
States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

“The focus, as in the previous years, will be on priority
sectors of agriculture, education, power, health and water
resources.

“A total of 1,251 projects executed within the 2019 and 2020
appropriation acts have been listed for tracking in this third
phase. These include 1,024 constituency and 227 executive projects
respectively.

“The objective of the tracking exercise is to ensure that the
Appropriation Act is fully implemented as contemplated by law,
monitor the implementation of the projects from inception to
completion, make recoveries on projects/contracts confirmed to have
been inflated, and investigate fraudulent procurement practices in
the award of contracts for constituency and executive projects.

“The reason is to improve service delivery to the people, ensure
the full execution of all projects, guarantee value for money in
the implementation of the projects and ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements in the implementation of the projects, and
increase recovery of public funds into government coffers, among
others,” he stressed.

*Kicks off phase 3 of constituency, executive projects
tracking

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC), on Tuesday, announced the commencement of Phase
3 of the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Exercise.

According to a statement signed by the commission’s
spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, and made available to newsmen in
Abuja, the tracking of the constituency and executive projects was
an initiative of the commission that began in 2019.

The exercise focuses on how well money allocated to critical
sectors of education, health, agriculture, water resources and
power amongst others by the government were utilized.

ICPC said the first phase of the exercise was held in 2019 in 12
states and the FCT and saw the tracking of 524 projects, saying the
second phase in 2020 had about 822 projects tracked in 16
states.

It said the first two phases led to the recovery of assets worth
billions of naira to the government, return of equipment to
communities for whom they were meant.

The statement further said about 300 contractors returned to
sites and completed hitherto shoddily done or abandoned projects,
adding that the exercise led to the revelation that some projects
were excellently and completely executed.

It said the commission was following up the first two phases of
the projects with the community sensitization and enlightenment
programme, receipt, and handling of enquiries on the toll-free
number (0800-CALL-ICPC/0800-2255-4272) and info@icpc.gov.ng.

The commission stated that some cases of diversion of project
funds from the first two phases were being investigated.

“Phase three of the constituency and executive projects tracking
exercise is slated to take place in 17 states – Katsina, Kano,
Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Plateau and Kogi. Others are Benue, Ondo,
Osun, Lagos, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Edo, Anambra and Imo
States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

“The focus, as in the previous years, will be on priority
sectors of agriculture, education, power, health and water
resources.

“A total of 1,251 projects executed within the 2019 and 2020
appropriation acts have been listed for tracking in this third
phase. These include 1,024 constituency and 227 executive projects
respectively.

“The objective of the tracking exercise is to ensure that the
Appropriation Act is fully implemented as contemplated by law,
monitor the implementation of the projects from inception to
completion, make recoveries on projects/contracts confirmed to have
been inflated, and investigate fraudulent procurement practices in
the award of contracts for constituency and executive projects.

“The reason is to improve service delivery to the people, ensure
the full execution of all projects, guarantee value for money in
the implementation of the projects and ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements in the implementation of the projects, and
increase recovery of public funds into government coffers, among
others,” he stressed.