Lawmakers yesterday queried the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Precious Gbenol, on why the office spent N25 billion out of N54 billion earmarked for the execution of constituency projects in the 2008 and 2009 Appropriation Acts on consultancy, renting and management of warehouses.
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The lawmakers, who made the inquiry during a meeting with the office of the MDGs, also lamented the poor and shabby implementation of constituency projects by contractors across the country.
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Speaking at the meeting, Hon. Rasaq Bello-Osagie said, “My concern is that, taking a holistic assessment from the point of view of somebody with finance background, out of N54 billion that was committed to projects for 2008, 2009, over N25 billion was committed to consultancy services, renting/management of warehouse. I think without being judgmental, one is tempted to see some criminality.
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“ I do not see any reason, why I should commit N5 million to things that are unrelated to the structure itself that worth N10 million. You are committing over N25 billion out of N54 billion to renting of warehouses”, he said.
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Also contributing, Hon.Joseph Kigbu, highlighted the need to create a synergy between the MDGs office and relevant agencies including Primary Health Care (PHC); Federal Ministry of Health; Midwives Service Scheme among others to facilitate a successful implementation of the projects and ensure availability of manpower.
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Other lawmakers who spoke condemned the practice of consultants extorting money from contractors before they grant them certificates.
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“How can there be progress? In most cases, we often discovered that some of the consultants are the contractors, so how do you reconcile that?”, they queried.
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