Constituency Projects Should Serve Community Development, Not Personal Gain – Experts

Professor Adele Jinadu, a renowned Political Science scholar and former Secretary-General of the African Association of Political Science, has emphasized that constituency projects undertaken by federal lawmakers should not be viewed as personal initiatives. His remarks come in the wake of investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) into constituency projects embarked upon by federal lawmakers.

According to a recent report by Sunday PUNCH, the ICPC investigated contractors, consultants, and staff members of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the government as part of its ongoing tracking of constituency projects.

In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Professor Jinadu underscored that constituency projects should serve as channels for community development rather than avenues for personal gain. He criticized the opacity surrounding the salary and allowances of legislators at both state and federal levels, calling for greater transparency and accountability in the allocation and disbursement of funds.

Jinadu also expressed concern about the discretionary allocation of funds to legislators for direct disbursement, highlighting the potential for abuse and lack of transparency in the process.

Similarly, Debo Adeniran, the Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, decried the perpetuation of impunity and the exploitation of public resources. Adeniran called for thorough investigations by anti-graft agencies to prosecute anyone found culpable, emphasizing the need to protect whistleblowers who risk their well-being to expose corruption.

He lamented the situation where whistleblowers, who fulfill constitutional and societal expectations, suffer while those involved in corruption continue to enjoy impunity, thereby perpetuating a dangerous precedent that rewards wrongdoing.