Wastages: FG mulls GPS deployment to monitor constituency projects

The Federal Government has said that it is considering deploying Global Positioning System (GPS) across the six geopolitical zones to monitor constituency projects and expenditure. This was contained in a communiqué of a two-day stakeholders’ interactive forum organized by the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs (MSDIGA) with representatives from other ministries, departments and […]

The Federal Government has said that it is considering deploying Global Positioning System (GPS) across the six geopolitical zones to monitor constituency projects and expenditure.

This was contained in a communiqué of a two-day stakeholders’ interactive forum organized by the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs (MSDIGA) with representatives from other ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), yesterday in Abuja.

The Government said it is also considering a bottom-up approach in the citing and location of zonaI/constituency projects to enhance and ensure ownership by the constituents.

The communiqué which was signed by Simon Tyungu, a Special Adviser to the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, added that ICT platforms should be created for monitoring and evaluation of projects to reduce physical exercise of monitoring.

“There should be appropriate needs assessment of zonal/constituency projects in determining the value for the end users with adequate funding.

“There should be a bottom-up approach in the siting and location of zonaI/constituency projects to enhance and ensure ownership by the constituents.

“There should be improvement in the percentage of funds provided in the annual budget for robust Monitoring and Evaluation exercise to ensure sustainability of projects,” the communique said.

The forum also said that there should be a transition of zonal intervention/constituency projects from inception to completion and handover to the communities.

It said, “For monitoring and evaluation purposes, project locations, including Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates should be included in the budget, for easy access by citizens and organizations.

“There should be effective forms of tracking for constituency/zonal projects in order to ensure their satisfactory execution and for the country to have value for money.

“ICT platform should be created for monitoring and evaluation and verification of projects and programmes to reduce physical exercise as much as possible.

“Relevant MDAs should be given full control of the execution of zonal intervention projects.

“Relevant MDAs should enhance strict compliance to the extant circulars with respect to zonal/constituency projects to avoid sanctions.”