By Okon Okon
Constituency project is one of the channels to reach out to the people, especially those at the grassroots.
Stakeholders recently converged on Abuja to brainstorm on ways to ensure that constituency projects make the desired impact.
They agreed that this could be achieved through adequate monitoring, verification and evaluation of constituency projects nationwide.
The forum provided an opportunity for personalities from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the National Assembly, Civil Society Organisations, other stakeholders as well as members of the general public to interact.
In attendance were: Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Sen. George Akume, the Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, who was represented by Sen. Yusuf Abubakar, Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, represented by Maj. Gen. A. S. Ibikunle, among others.
Akume, who was the chief host, said the interactive forum was aimed at briefing stakeholders of the critical roles expected from MDAs.
He further explained that the forum was also meant to provide guidelines on effective monitoring, evaluation and verification for payment of zonal intervention/constituency projects nationwide.
According to him, his ministry, saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of zonal projects among others, will ensure collaboration with the National Assembly to ensure service delivery.
“The overall objective of implementing these projects and programmes is to ensure speedy and even development at the grassroots in line with the Federal Government’s agenda.
“Effective implementation of projects and programmes will also assist the government in key decision-making process.
“It will also help to determine that their deliverables were consistent with the intention to reduce poverty and significant economic inclusive growth, “ Akume explained.
According to Akume, the task of ensuring the realisation of these objectives is a joint responsibility of his ministry, the National Assembly and all implementing MDAs.
Lawan, on his part, said he was delighted to be part of such engagement, geared towards accountability, transparency, and compliance in implementing the zonal intervention/constituency projects across the country.
Lawan said the forum would serve as a platform for stakeholders to interact with experts on critical issues emanating from previous verification, monitoring and evaluation exercises.
According to him, the forum will also unravel the roles expected from MDAs in actualising the successful implementation of constituency projects in the country.
“We cannot undermine the importance of judicious use of resources where there are limited funds to actualise our many needs, especially as they relate to the constituency.
“While we can achieve much more with prudence and openness in the application of resources, we will realise much less if we do not prevent wastages
“Our aim today is to interact with stakeholders on critical issues emanating from previous verification, monitoring and evaluation exercises, as well as the roles expected from MDAs in actualising the successful implementation of constituency projects.“
According to him, as zonal intervention efforts, the projects are capable of impacting on the areas they are domiciled, aside taking development closer to the people, the rural dwellers in particular.
“Beyond that, there is the need to understand that our gathering here is more like a strategy session, on procedures for ensuring accountability and transparency.
“While we should be forthcoming with our submissions, we have to be concerned about implementing our suggestions, so that our efforts will not be in vain. “
In his contribution, Mr AbdulRasheed Bawa, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), assured of the commission`s collaboration with the forum to achieve its aims.
Represented by Mr Adebayo Adeniyi, Deputy Head of Operations, Bawa said the forum would enhance the needed knowledge to make the implementation of the 2020 constituency projects a seamless one for the benefit of Nigerians.
Mr Abraham Osezuah, a contractor and participant, said the forum created an opportunity for Nigerians to know the truth about the true situation of constituency projects.
“ The truth about constituency project is that it is meant to rescue Nigerians, especially those at the rural areas from poverty, but many people don’t understand it that way.’’
According to Osezuah, it is the duty of members of the National Assembly to budget for the projects and ensure that the executing agencies execute the projects.
“And if there is a project that is not executed and it was budgeted for, it is not the duty of National Assembly members to make sure it is executed.
“It is the duty of the ministry or the agency in whose budget the projects are domiciled to ensure execution of the projects, “ Osezuah explained.
At the end of the deliberations, stakeholders suggested the provision of a platform to create feedback mechanism that would enable them to monitor developments in terms of performance, timely and transparent implementation of constituency projects nationwide.