ICPC Mandate in Action: Tracking Constituency Projects and Safeguarding of Public Funds in Edo State.

 

By Doris Ogbeifun

The key duty of government is to deliver security and welfare to its citizens as enshrined in section 14(2)(b), section 16, and section 17 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. To ensure quality and effective service delivery to the people, the federal government employs dedicated institutional instruments, monitoring context to provide good governance and dividends of democracy. 

Against this backdrop, section 27(3) of the “Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 empowers ICPC to examine reports or information viz-a-viz suspected crimes as provided under the Act that are “otherwise received” by an officer. With a statutory focus on addressing corruption, bribery, and abuse of office within public sector institutions”. Therefore, it suffices to say that ICPC operates under its statutory obligation to prevent and investigate all malfeasance across the public service. This decree validates the creation of the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Group (CEPTG)-an inventiveness of the commission envisioned to conduct physical and on-site inspections of federally funded zonal interventions and executive projects spanning crucial sectors of governance such as power, education, water, agriculture, health and other infrastructure in conjunction with other state and non-state actors targeted at compelling contractors to complete abandoned or poorly executed work. 

Consequently, operations have commenced at ICPC Edo State Command regarding phase 8B of the constituency project tracking ingenuity, which is being facilitated by the national assembly across the three (3) senatorial districts in Edo State. The core areas of this project tracking centers on “empowerment programme for youth and women, education, road construction and other infrastructures, sensitization programs on effects of drug abuse, cultism and the culture of get-rich quick syndrome, supply of medications and medical equipment, construction of police stations and solar powered streetlights”. 

 On Tuesday 18th August, 2026 a team of ICPC officers and a quantity surveyor visited constituency project sites across the three (3) senatorial districts to inspect constituency projects being implemented by the national assembly members to confirm if the completed projects are in compliance to the specified standards. The team identified twenty-four (24) projects sites spanning across the three senatorial districts in the state ranging from the provision of learning materials and furniture’s and fittings to 21 primary and secondary schools across the districts under review. Additionally, construction of Police Area Command Igara and Ibillo Police Station in Akoko-Edo federal constituency respectively. The installation of solar powered street lights in Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde, Ovia, Egor/Ikpoba-Okha and Etsako federal constituency respectively. Accordingly, supply of hospital equipment to selected primary healthcare centers in Egor/Ikpoba-Okha, Etsako, Esan central/Igueben federal constituencies respectively. On a similar note, execution of awareness campaign on effects of drug abuse for constituents in Edo central senatorial district was recorded as well as culture, moral values and cultural development and conscientization for youth against drug abuse, cultism and get-rich-quick syndrome in Oredo.  

In conclusion, according to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Edo State Command project inspection team, the performance of the aforementioned constituency projects is generally satisfactory. The team noted that this exercise should be a collective responsibility to end malfeasance and safeguard our common patrimony meant to construct public infrastructure. By so doing, the lawmakers will be compelled to be accountable, transparent and diligent in-service delivery. They further stated that when the people take ownership of these constituency projects, development becomes inclusive, sustainable and capable of building public trust. The community will make sure that public works comply with the stipulated standards and certify that the project are fully accomplished rather than abandoned.