ICPC Uncovers N219.84bn In MDAs, Constituency Projects

By Damilare Adeleye

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reportedly tracked N219.84 billion to contractors and ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, of the federal government.

The Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this at a briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said the tracking focused on critical sectors such as education, agriculture, healthcare and infrastructure which he added, spanned 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, across all six geo-political zones of the country.

“The Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Group (CEPTG) has tracked a total of N219, 843,922,945.48 across 176 ministries, departments, and agencies, MDAs, since its inception in 2019.

‘’The initiative is to ensure government funds are directed towards impactful projects that benefit the most vulnerable Nigerians,’’ he said.

According to the ICPC boss, the phase 6 tracking which commenced in November 2023 and continued through the first quarter of this year, is ongoing.

He said: “Finally, we want to assure Nigerians that ICPC, in the discharge of its enforcement mandate, is committed to adherence to the rule of law and international best practices in the investigation and prosecution of persons suspected to have committed corrupt practices.’’

The CEPTG, initiated in April 2019 as a preventive and intervention measure, is initiated to tackle corruption and, among other things, engender good governance, transparency, and accountability within the body polity. It focuses on how well monies allocated to critical sectors by the government are utilised.

Highlighting the findings from Phase 6 tracking, the commission’s chairman said a total of 1,721 government-funded projects were tracked within the Phase 6 tracking cycle.