The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is gearing up to commence Phase 6 tracking of constituency and executive projects valued at N500 billion. This tracking exercise, which began in 2019, will cover 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to Azuka Ogugua, the spokesperson for ICPC, a total of 1,932 projects will be monitored during this phase. The focal states for the exercise include Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Kwara, Plateau, Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe, and Yobe. Other states in focus are Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, and the FCT.
The objectives of this exercise, as explained by Ogugua, are to improve service delivery to the people by investigating fraudulent procurement practices in the award of public contracts, ensure the full execution of all publicly funded projects, ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, and guarantee that the government gets value for money spent on projects.
In addition to tracking constituency projects, ICPC will also focus on special intervention agencies and capital funds projects handling, as well as the execution of projects by the North-East Development Commission, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Niger Delta Development Commission, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Ecological Fund Office, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), and Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), among others.
Ms. Ogugua stressed that this exercise will be carried out in collaboration with relevant stakeholders such as the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), the media, and civil society organizations.
Phase 6 of the tracking exercise will kick off on October 16, covering the six geo-political zones of the country. This phase follows the successful implementation of Phase 5, which took place in November 2022.
NAN
