By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), has disclosed that the commission has tracked over N219 billion constituency projects across 176 ministries, departments and agencies in five years.
Aliyu, who made this disclosure during a media briefing held at Marriott Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, on Monday, 29 April, 2024, said the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Group tracked a total of N219,843,922,945.48 since its inception in 2019.
The tracking exercise focused on critical sectors like education, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure, spanning 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory across the six geo-political zones.
This initiative, according to him, ensures government funds are directed towards impactful projects that benefit the most vulnerable Nigerians.
Aliyu said having conducted a thorough investigation on some infractions identified on funded projects, the ICPC had instituted cases against some suspects.
Reporting on the 2024 Phase 6 Tracking Exercise, he said the exercise commenced in November 2023 and through the first quarter of 2024.
“A total of 1,721 government-funded projects were tracked within the Phase 6 tracking cycle. The commission is conducting further investigations on some infractions discovered, which are: under-performed projects, shoddily executed projects, and abandoned projects,” the ICPC boss said.
He said appropriations for all tracked projects was N220 billion and the contracts value of all projects tracked was N285 billion.
“The value of projects on which contractors returned to sites is N30 billion; cash recoveries made so far is N163 million; recoveries made in assets so far is N513.3 million; recoveries made so far (cash and assets) is N676 million.”
He said the cumulative savings to the government was N30 billion and the number of contractors/companies involved in the tracked projects was 1,355.
He added that the commission had over the years developed its capacity, experience, ideas and strategies to combat corrupt practices in the public sector.
“We will continue on this trajectory under my leadership. However, the commission requires support of all Nigerians which include the media to effectively deliver on its mandates.”
Speaking earlier at a workshop organised by the ICPC on Monday, the chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Emmanuel Udende, said the National Assembly was ready to support the Commission in its mission to rid Nigeria of corrupt activities.
Udende said this during his presentation at the Two-Day Strategic Plan Workshop held at the Marriott Hotel in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme.
“Indeed, corruption is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of our society and continues to dwarf developmental efforts and initiatives of the government.
“Corruption does no good to anyone and its impact is felt by everyone no matter your class,” the lawmaker said.
According to Udende, the National Assembly was impressed “with the harmonious working relationship between the commission and its sister agencies. I want to assure you that the Senate ably led by Senator Godswill Akpabio will continue to offer our best possible legislative support to the commission as we all fight the monster called corruption.”
