Juliana Taiwo- Obalonye, Abuja
FEDERAL Government has warned that it will not pay for any zonal intervention and constituency projects not executed satisfactorily and according to specifications.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, gave the warning on behalf of the government at the opening of Stakeholders Interactive Forum on the Implementation of Zonal Intervention and Constituency Projects.
The objective of the two- day Forum is to interact with stakeholders on critical issues emanating from previous verification, monitoring and evaluation exercises. Represented by Hajia
Amina Bello, the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Office, the SGF stressed that, contractors handling the various projects shall not be paid until the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation authorises such projects after monitoring, evaluation and verification.
President Muhammadu Buhari had last year expressed interest in the timely and effective execution of these projects which are in line with his administration’s change agenda, hence the resolve to verify, monitor and evaluate all projects in order to ensure optimal value for money.
Mustapha, while emphasising the importance of the constituency projects, said it is to ensure speedy grassroots development.
The SGF noted that there was need for “stakeholders effective collaboration to ensure synergy in the selection, execution, monitoring, evaluation and verification of the projects.
“Payments for the contracts under the Zonal intervention/Constituency projects will be made based on satisfactory performance in order to ensure value for money.
“Furthermore, contractors handling Zonal intervention/ Constituency projects shall only be paid upon authorization by the OSGF. I will seek your co-operation to carry out this important exercise dili- gently and effectively, bearing in mind that the whole essence is to ensure account- ability and transparency.”
The SGF observed that the intervention by the Executive to situate the supervision of the Constituency projects in the OSGF is aimed at ensuring that these projects are not abandoned even when members of the National Assembly facilitating them leave office.
Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office, Mr. Festus Daudu, reiterated the need for collaboration between members of the National Assembly and the executive in the implementation of the intervention and constituency projects.
He urged members of National Assembly to ensure more commitment to the projects, as they were veritable tool for the realisation of grassroots democratic dividends.
The government had last year warned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (Midas) who pay for constituency projects without clearance from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, that they risked being invited by Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and being imposed with heavy sanctions.