BE INVOLVED IN SELECTION, IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING OF CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS — ICPC, NOA SENSITIZE ANAMBRA STAKEHOLDERS

Nigerians have been charged to hold their elected representatives accountable for the constituency projects sited in their localities. The Commissioner in charge of Enugu State office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences    Commission (ICPC), Mr. Amedu Sule, gave the charge at a town hall meeting organized by the ICPC and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to educate Nigerians on constituency projects. 

The event, which held at Umuowelle Village, Agulu in Aniocha  Local Government Area attracted presidents general of various communities drawn from the three senatorial zones of the state, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, the media among others. Constituency projects are projects selected and sponsored by law makers during the budget cycle to take development closer to the grassroots.

On the occasion, the Commissioner Enugu State Office of ICPC, Mr. Amedu Sule, said it was imperative for the ordinary Nigerian to be enlightened on how to get involved in the process of selecting, implementing and monitoring these projects for the purpose of transparency and accountability.

Mr. Sule explained that constituency projects were funded by government with public money and are not gifts or donations to communities by political representatives. Earlier in an address of welcome, the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Anambra State, Mr. Charles Nwoji, noted that in the past many of these projects were never done or left uncompleted while irrelevant projects were sited in communities requiring no such projects.

Mr. Nwoji said community ownership of constituency projects would ensure that the legislators and other government officials would be alerted when there was poor execution of these contracts.

Some participants in the town hall meeting, including Mr. Dennis Muomaife and Mrs. Franca Nwaigbo, described the meeting as an eye opener and pledged to take the message to those at the grassroots.

The theme of the town hall meeting is my constituency, my project.

ROSEMARY ELEE