Order Paper Holds Dialogue on Constituency Projects Implementation

Gloria Essien, Abuja

To promote transparency and accountability in constituency project implementation across Nigeria, a non-government organisation, Order Paper, has held a policy dialogue to address corruption which hampers the effective implementation of constituency projects across Nigeria.

With the theme ” The Role of the Private Sector in the Implementation of Constituency Projects in Nigeria, ” the policy dialogue held in Abuja, the nation’s capital is also aimed at enhancing transparency, development, and improving the lives of Nigerians.

Transparency and accountability

In his remark while declaring the dialogue open, the leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, represented by the Special Assistant to the President of the Senate Mr Oluseyi Olubanjo said that ensuring transparency and accountability in constituency projects is the responsibility of state actors, policymakers, civil society organisations, and professional bodies.

“Constituency projects are essential tools through which the government delivers critical infrastructure, services, and development at the grassroots level; they bridge the gap between the governance and local needs, providing the community with schools, roads, water supply system, and other vital infrastructure.”

“The implementation of constituency projects in Nigeria is critical in fostering grassroots development and improving the quality of life across the nation. These projects are designed to meet the basic needs of local communities. However, the success of these projects likely depends on the conduct of the key players involved, one of the most critical in the private sector, especially the contractors.”

He noted that for constituency projects to achieve their full potential and contribute meaningfully to national development they cannot be left solely in the hands of the government.

He said that the private sector which is part of the technical expertise and innovative capabilities must play a key role in ensuring the projects are not only executed but done at efficiently sustainable against this backdrop.

Mr. Joshua Audu Gana commended the Order Paper initiative for tracking constituency projects in the country and ensuring that accountability and transparency are achieved.

Monitor ongoing projects

He further urged stakeholders and other civil society organisations to engage the contractors to monitor ongoing projects and report any act of corruption.

The Executive Director of Order Paper, Mr Oke Epia, while giving insight into the policy dialogue, said that the private sector and contractors have critical roles to play in the processes, raising concerns over corporate integrity and project accountability by ensuring that constituency projects are implemented.

“The purpose of this policy dialogue is to engage the Legislators, Private sector, civil society organisations, professional bodies, Journalist and anti-corruption agencies to see how we can address the issue of abandoning constituency projects by holding the people in charge responsible for ensuring the implementation of the projects in their respective constituency.”

While reacting to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Chairman Ola Olukoyede noted concerns about how constituency projects were not properly implemented due to corruption, which is dragging back the country’s infrastructural development.

Olukoyede was represented by the Deputy Director and Head of the Department of Fraud Control and Prevention, Dr. Eze Johnson, sought the collaboration of civil society organisations, contractors, and professional bodies in tracking constituency project implementation.

Challenges that hinder constituency

One of the highlight of the dialogue was a plenary session where some critical issues were discussed, and challenges that hinder constituency project implementation, such as Corruption, lack of proper Monitoring, and funding among others were discussed.

The policy dialogue brought together civil society organizations, anti-corruption agencies, professional bodies, and Journalists, among other Stakeholders, to ensure that constituency projects are well monitored and implemented.

Order Paper Advocacy Initiative is a non-profit organisation that embarks on policy-related engagements and interventions, especially in the legislative space that expand the frontiers for good governance and deepen democratic practice.

Lateefah Ibrahim