Politics
THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Tuesday, sensitised stakeholders on the need for community engagements in development projects.
Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, the Oyo State Director of NOA, while speaking at a town hall meeting in Ibadan, tagged ‘My Constituency, My Project’, said that the event was organised by ICPC and NOA.
Dosunmu said that the sensitisation was aimed at informing members of the different constituencies that they were required to be part of the execution of constituency projects.
“Our partnership is to change the perception of our citizens to begin to see the projects as theirs and continue to make the needed contributions that would help to popularise democracy in the country.
‘’Community ownership will ensure that legislators and other officials of government are alerted when there are poor executions of these contracts and that they are held accountable.”
‘’When communities take ownership of these projects, there will be genuine interest to preserve and protect them.
“It will also ensure that contractors execute the projects to the highest standards required,’’ she said.
According to her, constituency projects are initiated by members of the National Assembly during the budget cycle to bring development projects closer to the grassroots.
Dosunmu added that constituency projects were meant to make members of the national assembly accountable to their constituencies.
“It also gives the representatives of the people the required opportunity to identify infrastructural lapses in their domains for government’s intervention,” she said.
Mr. Stephen Pimor, the ICPC Commissioner for Oyo and Ogun States, said that the programme was meant to encourage more community participation in community development projects.
“We have gathered here today to talk about how you, the community people, can be involved in the process of selecting, implementing and monitoring these projects for the purpose of transparency and accountability.
“The policy of constituency and other government projects for communities is valid evidence that government means well for the people and it is through the projects that government can touch their lives.
“For this reason, you, the beneficiaries, need to show interest in the selection, execution, and use of the projects. You need to take ownership of the projects for sustainability,’’ he said.
Pimor said that it was important for the public to know that constituency projects were being funded by the government with public money and not as gifts or donations from politicians.
In his remarks, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, enjoined political office holders to always sensitise the public before embarking on projects in their constituencies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by the Oyo State Commandant of NDLEA, representative of NSCDC, leaders of religious and professional bodies, NGOs and local government chairmen, among others. (NAN)
– Mar. 17, 2020 @ 16:45 GMT |
Tags: ICPC NOA sensitise stakeholders on engagement in community projects
