N621bn road project diversion: Obligatory roles of affected, concerned parties sacrosanct for probe

Deficits in infrastructures have been a bane against the health of the Nigerian economy. One subject which has been tingling as a strong factor necessary for a stalemate, or better still, the backward stature in the profile of infrastructures, despite the increasing budgetary allocations for projects over the years has been corruption. In its patterns, the inclination of corrupt mischief, in its various wings of deformities, be it of fund diversion, misappropriation, laundering, among other mischievous acts of shenanigans which have seen substantial projects either failing out of full execution plan or falling below standards, have been a bane of unsavoury narratives.

The Country now grapples with the reality of harsh living conditions as infrastructural failure continues to pose limiting strains against the economy. The bank of infrastructures needed to propel appreciable growth in the economy appear to be much irreconcilable to the existing profile of the infrastructure in the Country. The deficits appear to be too deep seated that commercial and productive activities upon which industrialisation can ride on to drive the economy unto a robust strength of virile architecture, are largely constrained. The degree of the prevailing deficits, despite budgetary allocations over time, have brought into bear the question of why Nigeria’s profile of infrastructure base has been roving within the circle of low ebb despite increasing allocation?

An endemic vulture, the scourge of corruption has been observed not to have spared works and infrastructures in the Country. As it is known, the scourge in its diverse phases at various levels of maladies, has constituted backward strings frustrating upward development.  While more projects are been listed for execution with huge funds allocated, the scourge of corruption in various dimensions have seen such projects falling under the ill-fate of misfortune.

With the depth of cases of misappropriation of funds meant for infrastructure projects, probing such mischievous acts grossly against popular interest, has become of necessity. This is particularly important to change the narratives. Recall that as grievances continue to trail the sour state of road networks across the Country, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had on Sunday, 13th, February, 2022, the alleged diversion of N621billion funds budgeted for the repairs of 21 deplorable and critical federal roads across the Country. NUPENG had in a statement by its President and General Secretary, Prince Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, respectively, threatening to declare a nationwide strike without notice, accused officials of the Ministry of Works and Housing and some politicians of diverting a sum of N621billion budgeted for the repairs of 21 deplorable and critical federal roads across the Country, while the conditions of the roads have worsened and become unmotorable nationwide.The Union had claimed that officials of the Ministry of Works and Housing are now going around parading pictures of roads done in June and August 2021 to justify payment made from the N621billion approved in October, 2021 for the identified 21 critical 1oads.

NUPENG in its lamentation had recalled the concerns of the National Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) on Wednesday, 8th February, 2022 and the President of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), on Thursday, 10th February, 2021, explaining the reasons behind the increasing deterioration of health and safety provisions for PTD members and the rising number of roads and fire accidents involving the Petroleum Trucks across the country. The Union had demanded the setting up of a competent monitoring and validation team comprising all those stakeholders, the pre award pictures of the 21 identified roads taken to be compared with pictures of post repairs/reconstruction situation, immediate review of transport freight rates to reflect the operational realities of the petroleum distribution value chain, among others.

The statement had read partly, “In as much as we understand the unfortunate situation the Transporters have found themselves, NUPENG, as a responsible and responsive Trade Union Organization cannot afford to sit idle and watch her able-bodied members continued to be wasted away as sacrificial items as well as the wanton destruction of millions of public lives and properties, so as to manage the operational costs by transporters due to inadequate freight rates being paid to them. Many of our members have constantly been lodging complaints of being forced to drive with worn-out tyres and other unsafe vehicular parts thereby putting their safety at high risk. More worrisome is the fact that the conditions of work of these drivers have remained same for more than six years now and the Transporters have been foot-dragging in committing to a revised collective Bargaining Agreement for the conditions of work for the Petroleum Tanker Drivers due to high cost of operations and low freight rates.

“You will all recall that at the end of the quarterly Branch Executive Council meeting of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, held at PTD House, Emene, Enugu on the 25th of September, 202l, the Union issued a firm and decisive ultimatum on the deplorable state of the federal highways and the painful experiences of our members while carrying out their duties across the Country. The management team of NNPC under Mallam Mele Kyari immediately apprehended the situation then to avert the situation of industrial action of the Union, by calling the leadership of the Union to two separate meetings on the 10th of October, 2O21.in lbadan and 12th October, 2021 in Abuja.

“In attendance at the 12th October were critical Stakeholders such as the FIRS, FRSC, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners and NUPENG. These two meetings resulted into signing of communiqué indicating the readiness and willingness of NNPC to finance the rehabilitation of identified 21 critical roads at an estimated sum of N621billion through Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme.

“On the basis of this communiqué, the Union suspended the intended industrial action, but we were very clear in our statement, that should the spirit and letter of the agreement not fully implemented with focus on those jointly identified critical roads or attempt is made to divert the funds, the Union will not give further warning to resume the intended actions.

“You will recall the proposal was tabled before the Federal Executive Council and was graciously approved by Federal Executive Council in-session. Unfortunately, our worst fear concerning the struggle is gradually unfolding with information coming out from reliable sources that some elements in the garbs of being State Governments, Officials of Ministry of Works and Housing and desperate Politicians are already dipping their soiled hands into these funds and diverting them to roads already budgeted for and done since last year. The officials of Ministry of Works and Housing are going around showing pictures of roads done in June and August 2021 to justify payment made from the 621 Billion Naira which was approved in October, 2021for the identified 21 critical 1oads.

“We have our facts and figures, and we shall not be cowed into allowing the 621 Billion Naira to go same way others budgeted funds have gone. We demand immediate halt to further release of the fund until that a competent monitoring and validation team comprising all those Stakeholders that signed the Communiqué is formed.The pre award pictures of the 21 identified roads are taken, which will be compared with pictures of post repairs/reconstruction situation. The 621 Billion Naira was approved because of our demand and struggle therefore, we owe our members and the general public the responsibility to ensure that every kobo of the approved fund is accounted for. Taxpayers’ money must be accounted for.

“Immediate review of transport freight rates to reflect the operational realities of the petroleum distribution value chain. For these critical issues, we have the mandate of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union to commence immediate mobilization of all our members for resumption of our earlier suspended action. We hereby plead with the general public to please bear with us as our action may resume without further notice and that these issues raised are of and should be of national concerns.An injury to one is an injury to all. We urge every patriotic Nigerians to also rise up and join us in this struggle, this is not a fight for NUPENG alone, it is our collective fight.”

However, as the National Assembly set in to probe the tingling allegation, it was disheartening that the invitees including NUPENG and PTD, on Tuesday, failed to appear before the National Assembly’s Joint Committees on Works to commence probe over the alleged diversion of the N621bn road fund.  The joint committee had invited the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), and leaders of the unions to respond to the allegation, but the parties stayed away from the investigative hearing organised by the committee, a development that roused the lawmakers’ ire. The Chairman of the joint committee, Senator Adamu Aliero, who described leaders of NUPENG and PTD as “liars” and “irresponsible,” demanding them to appear before the panel “in the next seven days,” was quoted: “For someone to make this grave allegation and was given the opportunity to defend the allegations and decided not to come is either a liar or irresponsible. We are not going to take it lightly with them. We are going to compel them to appear and speak on the allegation. We have summoned both NUPENG and the petroleum tanker drivers to come and defend the allegation made, that N621bn had been hijacked by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing together with some governors, and this money is meant for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 21 roads in the country. We felt that this allegation is very grave and serious. We need to investigate it properly to ascertain the veracity of the claim. That’s why we called the Ministry of Works and the minister responded with his directors. Members of the Senate and House Committees on Works are here. We don’t take allegations that have to do with public funds lightly. This is taxpayers’ money. We want to ensure that it is properly investigated. If they don’t come, we will compel them. We will issue a warrant.”

The role of the National Assembly in carrying out oversight function, such as probing such malady as the case of corruption here in contention, is sanctimonious to preserving the precepts of check and balances as provided for in a democratic setting. However, just as such role is sacred to the legislative institution, it is pertinent that individuals, interest and non-interest organisations, across board also have roles to play in their individual capacities towards the end of bringing such process to conclusive end, reasonably. The probity of any legislative process, and to another end of the democratic system, the judicial process, demand the participation of individuals, groups and organisations, as the case may be. These, in various ways, are essential to gather intelligence, facts and evidence to validate the processes of investigation from the end of the legislative institution, and for judicial processes as the case apply within the system of adjudication.

It is hence a requirement within both structures that fair representation of both the accused and the accusing side to appear for answer on the existing claim. The Tuesday experience of both sides shunning the National Assembly is a desecration of the sanctimonious posture of the legislature. To have a working system, obligatory responsibilities are sacrosanct. Thus, it behooves both sides to appear to make and defend their position. This, in the long run, is of importance both to preserve the system, and clear the air on all forms of controversies surrounding the recent allegations of misappropriation/diversion of such humongous sums, which if proven, is a colossal loss to the Country, and a case that must be prosecuted deeply to bring the perpetrators to book for a change in narratives.