- Focuses on effective projects’ delivery
BY COBHAM NSA – The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) is ready to enforce strict compliance with government guidelines and circulars on execution and payment for Zonal Intervention and Constituency Projects (ZIP/CP) across the country.
The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Babatunde Ogunjimi, who made the commitment, said the Treasury will work within its mandate to promote global best practices in projects’ implementation.
Ogunjimi said the OAGF is committed to robust partnership with the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs to ensure government guidelines and circulars on execution and payment for constituency projects are strictly followed.
Speaking when the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu visited him in Abuja, the AGF said; “We will give bite to these guidelines; we will ensure that this guidelines is projected adequately and that it becomes part of the prerequisite documentation for all constituency projects”.
According to him, the guidelines on constituency projects will be made an important part of discussions at all OAGF’s engagements with its stakeholders, assuring also that the Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Ministry will be given opportunity to make presentations at such occasions.
He further explained that all OAGF circulars on closure and capital projects, will henceforth emphasize strict compliance with the guidelines on constituency projects.
However, the AGF challenged the Ministry to continue and sustain engagement with relevant government Agencies, stakeholders and the National Assembly (NASS) to increase awareness on existing guidelines and circulars for implementation and effective service delivery.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Ministry, Mr Onwusoro Ihemelandu requested that payments should not be made for constituency projects that are not executed in line with the Federal Government guidelines and circulars and duly certified by the Ministry.
He noted that despite existing guidelines and circulars, many agencies continue to execute and pay for constituency projects without adhering to them and ensuring due verification.
For Mr Ihemelandu, this practice does not allow the government to get maximum value for the funds spent on the affected projects.
He also harped on the need to foster stronger partnership towards enhancing Inter-agency transparency and accountability in the implementation of Zonal Intervention and Constituency Projects (ZIP/CP).
While emphasizing the need for robust collaboration between the Ministry and the OAGF, he said such an arrangement would not only guarantee effective implementation of existing guidelines, but also ensure payments are not made for constituency projects unless there is verification and endorsement by Special Duties Ministry.
