Lawan and Akume made the call when they joined other
stakeholders on Tuesday in Abuja, to brainstorm on ways to ensure adequate
monitoring, verification and evaluation of constituency projects nationwide. Akume
said the interactive forum was aimed at briefing stakeholders of the critical
roles expected from MDAs.
He added that if constituency projects were properly
executed by the various representatives, it would go a long way to reduce
poverty, unemployment among others in Nigeria. Akume explained that the meeting
will provide guidelines on effective monitoring, evaluation and verification
for payment of zonal intervention/constituency projects across the country.
According to him, his ministry, being saddled with the
responsibility of overseeing the implementation of zonal projects among others,
will ensure collaboration with National Assembly to realise the objectives of
the forum.
“The overall objective of implementing these projects and
programmes is to ensure speedy and even development at the grassroots in line
with the Federal Government’s agenda. “Effective implementation of projects and
programme will also assist the government in key decision-making process. “It
will also help to determine that their deliverables were consistent with the
intention to reduce poverty and significant economic inclusive growth, “ Akume
explained.
Lawan, on his part, said he was delighted to be part of such
engagement, geared towards accountability, transparency, and compliance in
implementing the zonal intervention/constituency projects across the country.
The president of the senate was represented by Sen. Yusuf
Abubakar, Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties. Lawan said the forum
would serve as a platform for stakeholders to interact with experts on critical
issues emanating from previous verification, monitoring and evaluation exercises.
According to him, the forum will also unravel the roles
expected from MDAs in actualising the successful implementation of constituency
projects in the country. In his contribution, Mr AbdulRasheed Bawa, Chairman of
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), assured of the
commission`s collaboration with the forum to achieve its aims.
Represented by Mr Adebayo Adeniyi, Deputy Head of
Operations, Bawa said the forum would enhance the needed knowledge to make the
implementation of the 2020 constituency projects a seamless one for the benefit
of Nigerians.
(NAN)