Politics
THE National Orientation Agency, NOA, in collaboration with Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has organised a one-day workshop on constituency projects awareness.
The workshop with the theme: “My Constituency, My Projects’’, was geared toward educating the public on the need to be involved in the process of selecting, implementing and monitoring those constituency projects.
The reason for involving in your constituency projects was for the purpose of transparency and accountability.
The ICPC Zonal Commissioner in Charge of Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states, Amudu Sule, explained that the ICPC was charged with the specific mandate to fight corruption.
He explained that one of the ways was investigating reports of corruption and prosecuting the people, who engage in corrupt practices.
“We examine ways that government organisations carry out their works and correcting the practices that allow corruption to take place. We call this corruption prevention.
“We also carry out public enlightenment and education to gain the support of Nigerians for anti-corruption fights,’’ he said.
Sule noted that constituency projects are projects selected by legislators and provided for in budgets of the government, ministries and agencies for execution, whereas there are other projects that are developed and implemented.
“There are other projects implemented by the executive arm of the government, which are located in communities across the country and are for the benefit of the citizens.
“In a bid to stop corruption in the projects executed by the government, ICPC launched its Constituency Projects Tracking Group Initiative in 2019: it was inaugurated at the Federal Capital Territory in November last year.’’
The Director-General, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Garba Abari, explained that the essence of the partnership is to change the perception of the public so that citizens will begin to see the project as theirs.
He added that the awareness will continue to make the public to popularise democratic models of government in Nigeria.
Abari, represented by the Anambra State Director, NOA, Charles Nwoji, noted that when communities take ownership of these projects, there will be genuine interest to preserve and protect them.
`This will also ensure that contractors maximise profits, execute the projects to the highest standards required. Community ownership will ensure that legislators and other officials of government are at alert.
“When there is poor execution of these contracts they are also held responsible and accountable,’’ he said.
He explained that the projects were supported by members of the National Assembly during the budget cycle to drive the need to get development closer to the grassroots.
The workshop held at Agulu was graced by selected traditional rulers from the three senatorial zones of the state and some selected president generals from the three senatorial zones.
Some members of the Civil Society of organisations, security agencies and the media attended the workshop.
– Mar. 19, 2020 @ 11:12 GMT |
Tags: ICPC partner on constituency projects awareness NOA
