ICPC, NOA charge Akwa Ibom citizens to monitor constituency projects

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission (ICPC) and National Orientation Agency (NOA) have advised citizens of Akwa Ibom State to take an active part in tracking constituency projects to avert embezzlement of funds released for them.

Commissioner of ICPC in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Sola Sodipo, who gave the advice yesterday in Uyo during a town hall meeting, tagged “Promoting Accountable Governance through Tracking of Constituency and Public Projects Implementation,” organised by Social Development Integrated Centre (SDIC) Nigeria, said that corruption had been responsible for non-implementation and abandonment of public projects across the country.

Sodipo, represented by the Legal Officer for ICPC, Mr. Ukpo Kalu, said: “Corruption has gone beyond endurance. Corruption has increased poverty in our country. People are dying every day due to corruption.

“Constituency projects are meant for the benefit of the people in their various constituencies but unfortunately, the funds released for the constituency projects are diverted due to corruption. Many projects have been abandoned because of corruption.”

The state Director, NOA, Mr. Enoh Uyoh, who urged Akwa Ibom citizens to be part of the fight against corrupt practices by making sure corrupt public officials were exposed, said: “When we elect certain persons to pilot the affairs of the state and country, it gives the assurance that our constituencies will be developed but the reverse is the case.

“Some corrupt politicians have embezzled funds meant for the development of their constituencies. And we know that when funds are diverted, citizens are the ones that suffer.

“Therefore, the time has come for the citizens to take action in fighting corruption so as to eradicate it because it (corruption) is the reason for underdevelopment in our country. If we do not fight corruption, it would affect generations to come.”

However, in her welcome speech, the Executive Director, SDIC, Nigeria, Vivian Bellonwu-Okafor, said the project was part of ongoing effort to engender accountable and good governance through mobilisation of active citizens’ engagement around corruption and weak governance issues towards achieving sustainable development of both material and human capital.