The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, (ICPC), says it has uncovered a startling revelation over the allocation and management of public funds in Nigeria.
At a press conference held in Lagos yesterday, the ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed that the Commission, through its Constituency and Executive projects Tracking Group, (CEPTG), has meticulously tracked a total sum of ?219.844 billion disbursed to 176 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) since 2019.
Aliyu emphasised the importance of directing government funds towards impactful projects that serve the most vulnerable segments of the population.
According to him, the tracking exercise, spanning critical sectors such as education, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure, has covered 26 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) across all six geo-political zones. “This initiative ensures that Government funds are directed towards impactful projects that benefit the most vulnerable Nigerians”, he said.
The on-going Phase-6 exercise initiated in November 2023 and extending through the first quarter of 2024, focuses on scrutinizing projects in the Health, Agriculture, Education, Water Resources, and Power sectors.
“With 1,721 Government-funded projects under review, the commission has uncovered various infractions, including underperformance, shoddy execution, abandonment, and premature certification of incomplete projects.
Among the most alarming discoveries are instances of hoarding empowerment projects intended to alleviate poverty among the populace.
However, relevant MDAs have been directed to invite ICPC for monitoring the distribution of such projects to ensure transparency and accountability.
“The Commission is conducting further investigations on some infractions discovered, which are: Under performed projects; Shoddily executed projects; Abandoned projects; Certification of projects as completed when such projects have not been completed.
“It was observed that some agencies were in the habit of handing over empowerment items to stakeholders for onward distribution to the intended beneficiaries. This practice encouraged hoarding and politicization of the empowerment sharing processes.
“To stem the tide of empowerment items being converted to personal use or for personal aggrandisement, and to engender value for money on government funds as well as for impactful socio-economic development of the citizenry, relevant MDAs have been mandated to invite ICPC to monitor the distribution of empowerment items on their budget”, Aliyu said.
Key findings from the Phase-6 Tracking Exercise include projects where contractors returned to sites – 176; appropriations for all tracked projects – ?220 bn; contract value of all projects tracked – ?285 bn; value of projects on which contractors returned to sites – ?30 bn; cash recoveries made (so far) – ?163 million; recoveries made in assets (so far) – ?513.3 m; cumulative savings to Government – ?30 bn and contractors/companies involved – 1,355.
Chairman Aliyu affirmed ICPC’s commitment to combatting corrupt practices in the public sector while emphasising the importance of support from all stakeholders, including the media.
He assured Nigerians that ICPC remains dedicated to upholding the rule of law and international best practices in its enforcement mandate.
