The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) says it would work within its mandate to support the enforcement of compliance with government guidelines and circulars on the execution and payment for constituency projects.
Constituency projects, also known as Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs), are initiatives conceptualized and funded by the government, but executed by contractors on behalf of legislators to promote grassroots development.
Since the return of democracy in the country in 1999, the Federal Government has spent several billions of Naira on allocations in the annual budget for constituency projects.
But, a monitoring report by a civil society organization tracking over 5,000 government projects across 31 states of the Federation said the execution of these projects has suffered for lack of transparency and accountability.
Speaking on Wednesday when when the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu visited him in his office in Abuja, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Babatunde Ogunjimi, said his office would support the campaign to enforce compliance with government guidelines and circulars on execution and payment for constituency projects.
“We will give a bite to these guidelines. We will ensure that these guidelines are projected adequately and that it becomes part of the prerequisite documentation for all constituency projects”, the AGF said.
He promised that the guidelines on constituency projects would be made an important part of discussions at all engagements by the Office of Accountant General of the Federation with its stakeholders, while the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs would be given opportunity to make presentations at such occasions.
Mr Ogunjimi stated further that in circulars emanating from his office on closure and capital projects, emphasis would be made on compliance with the relevant guidelines on constituency projects execution.
He advised the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs to continue the engagement with relevant government agencies, stakeholders and the National Assembly to increase awareness on the guidelines and circulars on constituency projects.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Onwusoro Ihemelandu said he was on the visit ahttps://mediatracnet.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=my-jetpacks part of the campaign to create awareness on the need to enforce compliance with government guidelines and circulars on execution and payment for constituency projects.
Ihemelandu requested the Accountant General of the Federation to ensure that no payments are made for constituency projects that are not executed in line with the Federal Government guidelines and circulars and duly certified by his Ministry.
The Permanent Secretary observed that despite Federal Government’s guidelines and circulars, many agencies of government have executed and paid for constituency projects without due adherence to the stipulated guidelines and circulars and due verification.
He pointed out that this practice does not allow the government to get maximum value for the funds spent on these projects.
Mr Ihemelandu appealed for collaboration between his Ministry and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) to ensure the guidelines are implemented fully and no payments are made for constituency projects, unless after verification by his Ministry.
