The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has announced a strong new step to make sure public money is spent properly on constituency projects across Nigeria. They said they will withhold payment for any project that is not carried out according to the Federal Government’s official guidelines and circulars.
This announcement was made by Mr. Babatunde Ogunjimi, the Accountant General of the Federation. He shared this during a meeting with Mr. Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, in Abuja.
The Accountant General stressed that the OAGF supports the Ministry’s campaign to enforce rules on how constituency projects are done and paid for. These rules are meant to ensure transparency, proper use of funds, and quality execution of projects that benefit communities.
Mr. Ogunjimi said, “We will give bite to these guidelines,” meaning the rules will be strictly applied. He added that these guidelines will become a required part of all documents related to constituency projects. This means that no project can be approved for payment without meeting these standards.
Furthermore, he said that the guidelines on constituency projects will be regularly discussed in meetings between the OAGF and other government stakeholders. The Ministry of Special Duties will also be given chances to present updates and educate others on the importance of following these rules.
In addition, the OAGF will emphasize compliance with these guidelines in their official communications, especially in circulars related to closing projects and handling capital expenditures. This shows that the guidelines are becoming a central part of managing government projects.
Mr. Ogunjimi encouraged the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs to continue working closely with other government agencies, stakeholders, and the National Assembly. Their goal is to spread awareness and make sure everyone understands and follows the proper procedures.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ihemelandu, requested that no payment should be made for constituency projects unless they follow the government’s rules and are officially verified by his Ministry. He pointed out that despite the clear government guidelines, many projects have been done and paid for without following the proper rules or receiving necessary approval.
He explained that this practice wastes public money and means the government is not getting the best value from the funds spent on these projects. If rules are not followed, there is no way to be sure the projects are done properly or meet the needs of the communities.
To solve this, Mr. Ihemelandu called for stronger collaboration between his Ministry and the OAGF. He wants to make sure payments are only made after proper checks and official certification. This partnership will help guarantee that all constituency projects are done right and the money is used wisely.
Constituency projects are meant to improve communities by providing infrastructure like schools, health centers, and roads. But when projects do not follow guidelines or are paid for without proper checks, it leads to poor quality work or unfinished projects. This wastes money that should be used to help the people.
By stopping payments for projects that don’t follow the rules, the government hopes to improve the quality of projects and ensure better service delivery. It also promotes accountability, meaning those responsible for projects must follow the rules or face consequences.
