By Ola Kay
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ,ICPC, says it is tracking 19 Zonal Intervention and Constituency Projects valued at N1.28 billion across various Local Government Areas in Rivers State, as part of efforts to ensure value for money in the execution of government-funded projects.
The ICPC Team Lead for the exercise, Afolabi Oluwatoyin Kolawole, (a Chief Superintendent), disclosed this on Monday in Port Harcourt.
Afolabi stated that the projects are being monitored under the commission’s Phase 8B Constituency and Zonal Intervention Projects Tracking Initiative covering projects for 2023 and 2024.
According to him, the initiative was designed to ensure that public funds allocated for constituency and zonal intervention projects translated into tangible benefits for citizens, particularly the intended beneficiaries.
“The essence of the exercise is to ascertain whether the targeted beneficiaries actually received the interventions allocated to their communities by their representatives,” Afolabi said.
He stressed the ICPC would continue to scrutinise projects to ensure that contractors and implementing agencies delivered according to approved specifications.
The Team Lead added that the commission would not only establish whether a project had been executed but would also examine the quality and quantity of items supplied and compare them with what was captured in the Bill of Quantities.
He emphasized that where substandard items or equipment are supplied, the Commission would assess the difference between what was delivered and what was specified and, where necessary, recover the balance from the contractor.
He explained that, “Sometimes, where such infractions can be remedied, we direct the contractor to go back to the site and effect corrections under our supervision.
“Where it is a completely bad case, it goes for prosecution,” he said.
ICPC assured that the initiative reflects the ICPC’s broader mandate to strengthen accountability in the management of public resources and ensure that constituency projects serve their intended purpose.
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