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NGO trains 49 persons on constituency project tracking in Enugu

NGO trains 49 persons on constituency project tracking in Enugu

By Emmanuel Acha
Tracking
Enugu, Sept. 6, 2019 (NAN) Divine Era Development and Social Rights Initiatives (DEDSRI), an NGO, has trained 49 focal persons to track the implementation of constituency projects in Enugu State.

begun the process of tracking constituency projects attracted to six local government areas of the state.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Ms Ogechukwu Enwelum, disclosed this on Friday while addressing the trainees in Enugu.

She said the beneficiaries were trained to monitor the status of constituency projects attracted to the affected areas in the last four years.

Enwelum said that the training was done in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria under a project called ‘Strengthening Citizens’ Resistance Against Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C)’.

She said that the project currently implemented in six states of the federation would empower the citizenry to hold their political representatives accountable.

Enwelum said that the project tracking would cover those attracted by national and state legislators.

She said that it was sad that much money had been expended on constituency projects across the country without commensurate result.

The executive director said the trainees would monitor projects attracted to Awgu, Enugu North, Enugu East and Igboetiti Local Government Areas of the state.

Others are Oji River and Uzo Uwani Local Government Areas.

She said that the field verification would cover no fewer than 1000 projects awarded in 2016, 2017, 2018 and part of 2019.

“Part of the process will involve physical verification of the projects and interface with the beneficiaries and service providers.

“We have to find out if the various projects as quoted are actually in existence at their various locations,” she said.

Enwelum said that the status of the projects and other relevant information would be extracted from the service providers and executing government institutions, among others.

“According to statistics, about N21 billion have been expended on constituency projects in the last three years but we are yet to feel the impact.

“The NGO trains 49 persons on constituency project tracking in Enugu are to reduce poverty at the grassroots which is majorly caused by corruption.

“When these deprivations are dealt with, many Nigerians will be liberated from poverty,” Enwelum said.

One of the trainees, Mr Nelson Oko, said that they were getting disappointed by the actions of some of their political representatives whom he said had not justified their positions.

Oko said that it had become necessary to hold such people accountable for their stewardship.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ActionAid Nigeria is a member of ActionAid global federation.

It is a global movement of people working together to further human rights for all and defeat poverty. (NAN)
EOA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

SGF demands transparency in execution of constituency projects

SGF demands transparency in execution of constituency projects
NAN-H-14
Projects
By Kate Obande-Okewu
Abuja, Sept. 28, 2017 (NAN) Dr Habiba Lawal, Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on Thursday called for transparency in the execution of constituency projects to ensure widespread development in the country.
Lawal, represented by Mr William Alo, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), made the call at the 3rd Stakeholders Forum on Implementation of Zonal Intervention and Constituency Projects in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders at the event included representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
She said that the forum was organised to allow stakeholders brainstorm on mechanism that would fast track the implementation of constituency projects.
Lawal added that stakeholders would fertilise ideas on effective procedure for monitoring, evaluation and verification for payment purposes of the projects to forestall poor or non-implementation of these projects.
“Constituency projects is a noble one conceived to assist members of the National Assembly as elected representatives of the people to facilitate development of their constituencies.
“Thus, if they are executed with all amount of sincerity by the stakeholders, they would impact positively on the lives of the citizenry.
“This task may not be easy but we shall not leave any stone unturned to ensure that this dream is realised,” she said.
According to her, the MDAs are responsible for the actual implementation of these projects while the OSGF monitors, evaluate, verify implementation and authorise payments at various stages of execution.
She added that the contractors handling constituency projects would only be paid upon authorisation by the OSGF.
However, the acting SGF noted that constituency projects previously had not being properly monitored, adding that there will be a turn around because these are tax payers money that must be accounted for.
The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, OSGF, Mr William Alo, said that his office was currently charged to oversee the implementation of zonal/constituency projects.
Alo, who was represented by Mrs Annette Asugha, the Director, Policy Implementation and Monitoring Decisions, OSGF, added that a committee has been set up to ensure adequate monitoring.
“A strong committee has been set up and has the duty to visit all project sites wherever it is located.
“Visiting the sites is a daily affair and they monitor the projects closely from conception to completion.
“When this is fine the value for money for these projects must be achieved,” he said.
He called for collaboration between the MDAs and National Assembly to effectively deliver the benefits of the projects to the citizenry. (NAN)
KTE/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola