The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC is to undertake Tracking Exercise of 1,251 projects executed within the 2019 and 2020 appropriations in its third phase tracking exercise.
These include 1,024 constituency and 227 executive projects respectively.
The ICPC Spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua disclosed this in a press statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, “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 the constituency and executive projects.”
“It is also 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.”
“The Commission hopes to close the gap between expenditure and development and the swallowing of scarce government resources characterized by shoddy handling of constituency projects through its enforcement and preventive mandate.”
ICPC “wishes to acknowledge its partners which include the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Budget Office of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bureau of Public Procurement, civil society organizations, the media, grassroots community development associations and other critical stakeholders.”
The statement said “legislature is also giving the Commission its support, as they have indicated that the execution of projects is equally of concern to them.”
“The exercise will be done with project geo-location and mapping to enhance tracking, meaning that remotely sited projects will also be brought under the tracking space for evaluation,” the statement added.
The statement encouraged Media and civil society organizations in the selected states to monitor the exercise and give their feedback to the Commission in order to assist ICPC improve the process.
Nneka Ukachukwu
