The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on Monday said that one of the greatest challenges facing constituency projects in Nigeria is the issue of lack of transparency and accountability.
He also urged contractors awarded constituency projects across the country to be efficient and transparent in the execution of projects.
Speaking in Abuja during a policy dialogue on, “The Role of the Private Sector in the Implementation of Constituency Projects in Nigeria”, organised by OrderPaper Nigeria in collaboration with budgiT and MacArthur Foundation, Bamidele said that these projects are marked by allegations of corruption with funds misallocated or misused and projects left incomplete. Here, the private sector can play a crucial role by promoting a culture of accountability.
According to him, contractors have critical roles to play in ensuring that communities benefit from the government’s various projects.
“From using state-of-the-art construction techniques for infrastructure projects to adopting digital technologies for project monitoring, the private sector brings a wealth of knowledge that can ensure projects are completed more efficiently at lower costs.
“And with higher quality. For example, in constructing roads, bridges, and healthcare facilities; the expertise of engineering and construction firms in the private sector can ensure that these projects are built to last, minimising the need for constant repairs or reconstruction.
“Likewise, technology companies can create digital platforms that monitor the progress of constituency projects, enhancing transparency and reducing the likelihood of corruption of project abandonment.
“When private companies invest their resources, they do so with an interest in ensuring their investment yields tangible results.
“As a result, they can help introduce strong monitoring and evaluation frameworks that track the progress and quality of constituency projects. Through collaborations with civil society organisations, local governments, and the media, the private sector can ensure that projects are executed transparently with measurable outcomes that truly benefit the people.
Speaking also at the event, EFCC chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede in his presentation during the dialogue blamed the abandonment and shoddy delivery of constituency projects on the involvement of some members of the National.
He said the tendency of some National Assembly members to influence the choice of contractors engaged in the execution of contracts for constituency projects was part of the factors responsible for the abandonment of projects.
The EFCC boss who was represented by a deputy director at the commission, Dr Eze Johnson, said investigations by the commission have revealed a conflict of interests involving some National Assembly members in the contract award and executions of some of the poorly executed and abandoned constituency projects they have investigated.
“As the EFCC, we can talk about our experience, what we see. I will not talk about it in generalizations. When I say generalizations, I mean one swipe covers everybody.
“We are not saying that every constituency project gets abandoned. We are not saying that every constituency project has problems.
“No. We are saying from our experience, that there are challenges in the implementation of a lot of constituency projects. And we are not just the ones saying it.
“Who was responsible for the abandonment? Why was it abandoned? Were monies paid? Who was responsible? We go after the contractor, and the contractor very often says, money was given. Or some money was given. What happened? Why did you not complete the work?
“We go after the bill of quantities and discover that a lot of times it is stuffed. A lot of times, if the bill says this, lower quality or quantity was supplied so that some money would be made available. We follow that money and discover very often that money goes back to places that they were not supposed to be going to.
“I’m talking fact. I’m not here to conjecture, to assume; it’s something I do on a day-to-day basis; I can tell you that. But remember I said, I’m not painting the brush on everybody. No, I’m not saying everybody is bad.
“I don’t want to say politically exposed persons. No. The people behind the companies are people who have interests in the legislators.
Speaking in the same vein, Chairman of ICPC, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, also blamed the involvement of lawmakers on the challenges facing the executions of constituency projects.
Adamu, who was represented by the commission’s secretary, Clifford Oparaodu, recalled a case of a member of the House of Representatives who became mad at the commission for stopping his project.
The Executive Director of OrderPaper Nigeria, Oke Epia, also speaking earlier at the meeting said the dialogue was put together to chart the way forward on issues of abandoned and poorly executed constituency projects to ensure that communities across benefit from such projects.
He said bringing critical stakeholders together for dialogue will help in unearthing and addressing the issues of corruption and lack of transparency in the execution of constituency projects in the country.