Constituency projects: Time to craft ideological perception around the basic parameters
One subject of concern which over time has fallen among the myriads of controversial subjects of governance in Nigeria, is the discourse over Constituency Projects. The clause which is believed to be projects injected into annual Budget by legislators for specific projects for their constituencies, have dwelt long amidst the shadow of controversies. Arguments over who handles the appropriated funds for the execution of such projects have been a subject falling along oblique patterns. While some do argue that legislators have no sphere of legality in executing projects, proponents of the phenomenon have maintained that legislators are immediately close to their local constituencies, and as a result, know better the pressing needs within their respective sphere of jurisdiction.
However, the much contested subject bends towards oblique provisions as to who handles and oversees the allocated funds for the execution of these projects. The subject which has remained controversial has seen several arguments coming forth from proponents and critics. Situations where legislators lay claim to the projects as their own sponsored projects have brought into thought, perceptions that they appropriate and handle the funding of the projects, against the claim that the funding is deployed by the executive. Some have argued that though the executive releases the funding, the legislators do know how to play shenanigans to have their interests fixtured in the process.
The arguments notwithstanding, it is rational according to established traditions under democracy, that one of the pristine functions of legislators is to carry out oversight functions. Hence, under such arrangement, it is only rational on the basis of institutionalised structures that the basic role of legislators pertaining to the elevated phenomenon of Constituency Projects, should be that of oversight function in ensuring the projects are effectively and efficiently executed bereft of compromise. Where legislators have developed the tradition of jostling for pecuniary interests from such projects, has brought into play an abnormality to what established principles require and dictate. In this regard, where principles have been compromised under an atmosphere which the working foundation is driven by personal interests, the prospect of deriving any meaning outcome from such projects is already defeated. Hence, the subject of firm monitoring, supervision and evaluation of those projects in the best standards of oversight requirements becomes scuttled and shattered, given that the underlying factor informing the infusion of the projects into the Budget were borne out of subterfuge.
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Sen. George Akume, had in one common voice on Tuesday urged communities to monitor constituency projects. The duo made the call when they joined other stakeholders on Tuesday in Abuja, to brainstorm on ways to ensure adequate monitoring, verification, and evaluation of Constituency Projects across the Country. According to Akume, should constituency projects be properly executed by the various representatives, it would go a long way to reduce poverty and unemployment, among others, in the Country. Akume who explained that the meeting will provide guidelines on effective monitoring, evaluation and verification for payment of zonal intervention/constituency projects across the Country, had mentioned that his Ministry, being saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of zonal projects among others, will ensure collaboration with the National Assembly to realise the objectives of the forum. He was quoted: “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 programme will also assist the government in key decision-making process. It will also help to determine that their deliverables are consistent with the intention to reduce poverty and significant economic inclusive growth.”
The President of the Senate who was represented by the Chairman Senate Committee on Special Duties, Sen. Yusuf Abubakar, had emphasised the significance of such engagement, geared towards enabling accountability, transparency, and compliance in implementing the zonal intervention/constituency projects across the country. According to him, the forum will also unravel the roles expected from Ministeries, Department and Agencies in actualising the successful implementation of Constituency Projects across the Country.
The need for parameters of accountability, transparency, and compliance in implementing the overblown phenomenon of Constituency Projects is imperative. It is high time the National Assembly paid attention to developing structures to institutionally define the entire lifespan processes of the execution of such projects, under robust foundations where lawmakers rather than jostling for shenanigans for sake of personal interests, would willingly or otherwise have no other choice than to deploy all efforts towards ensuring the projects are executed to serve the best interests in which they are designed to achieve.
More importantly, it is paramount for the National Assembly to strengthen conscious efforts towards create redefining ideology over the essence of the phenomenon. This is significant to redirect the perceptional construct of lawmakers over the projects. Hence, it is essential for both the lawmakers and the policy makers to come to terms with the defining patterns of the importance of such projects. In this light, both the National Assembly as the Legislature and concerned Executive Functionaries must work creatively to erect structures of relevance to institutionalise virile patterns within the Legislature and Executive formations towards creating a sense of purpose from the phenomenon. A continuity of the prevailing order clustered with circumstances, would only continue to raise ugly heads of dissatisfaction against common interests of the Country and the people who representatives ought to protect.
