ICPC needs additional funds to carry out its task
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Senators are canvassing for more funds allocation to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to enable the fraud buster deliver its mandate effectively.
Senate Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes Committee Chairman, Suleiman Kwari, first made the point during the defence of the 2022 appropriation proposal by ICPC in Abuja, and was supported by other senators.
Kwari (Kaduna North) reiterated that the ICPC is one of few government agencies carrying out a very critical assignment and therefore needs to be fully funded if it must rid Nigeria of corruption.
He said because of the huge mandate placed on the ICPC by its enabling law the current envelope system of budgeting is an impediment to the realisation of the task.
Kwari urged the ICPC to remain focused on its mandate and pledged to do all that is required for it to get more funding.
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Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) said it is imperative to allocate enough resources to the ICPC to enable it expand its net through physical presence across the nation.
Adeyemi added that having ICPC operatives at the grassroots or in each senatorial district would help checkmate corrupt practices at the local level.
He reiterated the Senate’s commitment to supporting improved funding for the ICPC to discharge mandate effectively, saying, “Whatever it will take to do that in terms of resources, we will support you.”
Others who canvassed more funds for the ICPC included Senators Yusuf A. Yusuf (Taraba Central) and Stella Oduah (Anambra Central).
ICPC Chairman Bolaji Owasanoye explained to the committee how the Commission is empowered by its enabling Act to carry out a three-pronged mandate of enforcement, prevention, public enlightenment and education.
He acknowledged that the envelope system of budgeting is a serious challenge while the effort at fighting corruption is being escalated.
He also spoke on the efforts the ICPC is making to get stakeholders to own the National Ethics and Integrity Policy, especially traditional rulers and professional bodies.
ICPC begins phase 3 tracking of federal projects
The ICPC began in August, Phase 3 of Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking by the ICPC to see how funds for education, health, agriculture, water, power, and other sectors are utilised.
The first phase was held in 2019 in 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and tracked 524 projects. The second phase in 2020 traced 822 projects in 16 states.
The first two phases led to the recovery of assets worth billions of naira to the government and the return of equipment to communities for whom they were meant.
About 300 contractors returned to sites and completed shoddily done or abandoned projects. Some projects were excellently and completely executed, according to a statement issued by ICPC spokesperson Azuka Ogugua.
The ICPC is doing the third phase with community sensitisation and enlightenment programmes, receipt, and handling of enquiries on the toll-free number (0800-CALL-ICPC/0800-2255-4272) and info@icpc.gov.ng
Some cases of diversion of project funds from the first two phases are being investigated, the ICPC said.
Phase 3 spans 17 states
Phase 3 is scheduled for 17 states – Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Ondo, Osun, Lagos, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Edo, Anambra, Imo, and the FTC.
“The focus, as in the previous years, will be on priority sectors of agriculture, education, power, health and water resources.
“A total of 1,251 projects executed within the 2019 and 2020 appropriations have been listed for tracking in this third phase. These include 1,024 constituency and 227 executive projects respectively,” the statement added.
It explained that the objective is, among others, to
- Ensure that the Appropriation Act is fully implemented as contemplated by law
- Monitor the implementation of projects from inception to completion
- Make recoveries on projects/contracts confirmed to have been inflated
- Investigate fraudulent procurement practices in the award of contracts
- Improve service delivery to the people
- Ensure full execution of all projects
- Guarantee value for money in the implementation of projects
- Ensure compliance with regulations in the implementation of projects
- Increase recovery of public funds into government coffers
Plugging resources wastage
The ICPC hopes to close the gap between expenditure and development and the wastage of scarce resources characterised by shoddy handling of projects through its enforcement and preventive mandate.
It acknowledges its partners which include the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, federal Budget Office, Office of federal Accountant General, Bureau of Public Procurement, civil society organisations, the media, grassroots community development associations, and other stakeholders.
The National Assembly is also giving the ICPC support, as it has indicated that the execution of projects is equally of concern to lawmakers.
The tracking will be done with project geo-location and mapping to enhance tracking, meaning that remotely sited projects will also be evaluated.
The ICPC said media and civil society organisations are encouraged to monitor the exercise and give their feedback “in order to assist us improve the process.”