THE Federal Government has identified a total of 2,399
constituency projects for execution by the various Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in 2013.
The Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, made this known in Abuja on Tuesday. He said the projects have been captured in the 2013 Appropriation for implementation.
He spoke while addressing the Service Wide meeting of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and Permanent Secretaries on the status of implementation of the constituency projects.
Turaki revealed that his ministry was compiling a list of abandoned projects and programmes and updating submissions received from MDAs and implored Permanent Secretaries to ensure quick returns to the ministry.
According to him, there are a number of abandoned constituency projects spread across the country which is as a result of the way contracts are awarded. Some contractors, he said, do not know the terrain where these projects are sited.
The minister said this prompted his ministry, charged with the responsibility of oversight functions on the implementation of the Zonal Intervention /Constituency Projects and Programmes, to develop a guideline for effective execution of projects.
He also noted that the widely held view that constituency projects are conduit pipes for members of the National Assembly was wrong.
He explained that the projects were conceived and allocated by members of the National Assembly in accordance with their envelopes while implementation was done by MDAs with supervisory oversight from members of the National Assembly whose role is key in identification and location of projects.
Turaki, however, said there was the need to establish a legal framework for implementation of constituency projects, noting that a bill was already being processed by the National Assembly and had gone through its second reading by the Senate.
He added that the financial capacity of contractors handling constituency rojects should be properly assessed to reduce cases of abandoned projects.
He further said: “note that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are responsible for the actual implementation of these projects, while my ministry will monitor, evaluate, verify implementation and authorise payment at various stages of execution.
“Therefore, payments for contracts under the constituency projects will be made based on satisfactory performance in order to ensure value for money.
“Furthermore, Contractors handling Constituency projects will only be paid upon authorization by this Ministry to the Federal Ministry of Finance,” he said.
The Minister noted that his Ministry is underfunded to undertake the successful implementation of Constituency Projects and implored the Federal Government to seek other sources of funding to ensure effective, efficient and timely deliverables.
He also urged the National Assembly to consider passing a law to extend the financial year, more so that funds have already been set aside to avoid mopping up at the end of the year.
He sought the co-operation of the MDAs to carry out the important exercise diligently and effectively, bearing in mind that the whole essence is to ensure accountability and transparency.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji in his remark, assured the Minister that they will give the Ministry all necessary support to ensure successful implementation of constituency projects.
He called for completion of abandoned Constituency Projects, saying one of the reasons why these projects are abandoned was when legislators who initiated such them were no longer in the National Assembly.
He argued that such should not be the case since the projects are funded with public money and are meant for the people.
The Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, made this known in Abuja on Tuesday. He said the projects have been captured in the 2013 Appropriation for implementation.
He spoke while addressing the Service Wide meeting of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and Permanent Secretaries on the status of implementation of the constituency projects.
Turaki revealed that his ministry was compiling a list of abandoned projects and programmes and updating submissions received from MDAs and implored Permanent Secretaries to ensure quick returns to the ministry.
According to him, there are a number of abandoned constituency projects spread across the country which is as a result of the way contracts are awarded. Some contractors, he said, do not know the terrain where these projects are sited.
The minister said this prompted his ministry, charged with the responsibility of oversight functions on the implementation of the Zonal Intervention /Constituency Projects and Programmes, to develop a guideline for effective execution of projects.
He also noted that the widely held view that constituency projects are conduit pipes for members of the National Assembly was wrong.
He explained that the projects were conceived and allocated by members of the National Assembly in accordance with their envelopes while implementation was done by MDAs with supervisory oversight from members of the National Assembly whose role is key in identification and location of projects.
Turaki, however, said there was the need to establish a legal framework for implementation of constituency projects, noting that a bill was already being processed by the National Assembly and had gone through its second reading by the Senate.
He added that the financial capacity of contractors handling constituency rojects should be properly assessed to reduce cases of abandoned projects.
He further said: “note that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are responsible for the actual implementation of these projects, while my ministry will monitor, evaluate, verify implementation and authorise payment at various stages of execution.
“Therefore, payments for contracts under the constituency projects will be made based on satisfactory performance in order to ensure value for money.
“Furthermore, Contractors handling Constituency projects will only be paid upon authorization by this Ministry to the Federal Ministry of Finance,” he said.
The Minister noted that his Ministry is underfunded to undertake the successful implementation of Constituency Projects and implored the Federal Government to seek other sources of funding to ensure effective, efficient and timely deliverables.
He also urged the National Assembly to consider passing a law to extend the financial year, more so that funds have already been set aside to avoid mopping up at the end of the year.
He sought the co-operation of the MDAs to carry out the important exercise diligently and effectively, bearing in mind that the whole essence is to ensure accountability and transparency.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji in his remark, assured the Minister that they will give the Ministry all necessary support to ensure successful implementation of constituency projects.
He called for completion of abandoned Constituency Projects, saying one of the reasons why these projects are abandoned was when legislators who initiated such them were no longer in the National Assembly.
He argued that such should not be the case since the projects are funded with public money and are meant for the people.
