ICPC Uncovers 257 Duplication Of Projects Executed By MDAs

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed that it uncovered 257 projects, costing over N20.1 billion, that were duplicated in the 2021 budget, pointing out that duplication of projects by MDAs was contributing negatively to high cost of governance.

 

The ICPC Chairman Prof Bolaji Owasanoye who disclosed this at  the 3rd National Summit on Dimishing Corruption in the public sector, noted that illegal recruitments were possible through syndicates that “corruptly employ unsuspecting Nigerians; issue them fake letters of employment, fraudulently enroll them on IPPIS and post them to equally unsuspecting MDAs to commence work”.

 

 

He said, “ICPC review found that 257 projects amounting to N20.138 billion were duplicated in the 2021 budget leading us to submit an advisory to the Minister of Finance which was promptly actioned by the Minister to prevent abuse.”

 

Highlight of the event was the presentation of the 2021 Public Service Integrity Award to two Nigerians who had exhibited exceptional acts of integrity.

 

Speaking on the award, President Buhari expressed delight that “some public officers have not only demonstrated the core values of ethics, integrity and patriotism but have been identified for their sterling anti-corruption disposition in their workplace.”

 

In his goodwill message at the Summit, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who was represented by Senator Michael Nnachi, commended the ICPC and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for “bringing stakeholders together for the third year running to proffer solution to address the menace of corruption in the public sector.”

 

“We cannot divorce corruption from high cost of governance. It has been observed that weaknesses in public institutions and agencies of government are often attributed to corrupt practices and other vices. Diminishing corruption in the public sector is therefore crucial to the delivery of government programmes and services to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), check insecurity and ensure transformation,” the Senate President added.

 

Also, in his goodwill message, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, described the theme for this year’s event as apt and strategic, in view of the perception of the country vis-a-vis its various institutions and agencies by the international community.

 

The CJN noted that the delays associated with the trial of criminal cases by the courts, particularly those relating to corruption and financial crimes, caused the apex court to set up a Corruption and Financial Crimes Cases Trial Monitoring Committee in 2018.

 

Justice Tanko added that the Committee has been working closely with other heads of court across the country to bring about speedy dispensation of corruption cases. “Even with the devastating impact of Covid-19 pandemic, in virtually the whole of 2020 and a better part of 2021, a total of 746 cases were dispensed with,” he emphasized.