The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has declared its renewed commitment to curbing irregularities in the funding and execution of constituency projects across the country. The move is aimed at ensuring strict compliance with federal guidelines and achieving transparency and value for public expenditure.
In a statement released on Thursday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Babatunde Ogunjimi, made this known during a strategic meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Onwusoro Ihemelandu, in Abuja.
Ogunjimi assured that the OAGF would intensify enforcement of extant government circulars and regulations concerning constituency projects. He said the OAGF would ensure that such guidelines are not only adhered to but also become essential documentation requirements before any payments are processed for constituency-related initiatives.
“We are going to give teeth to the existing guidelines. We will see to it that the provisions are properly highlighted and embedded as part of the approval and disbursement framework for constituency projects. This will form a key part of our engagements with stakeholders moving forward,” Ogunjimi stated.
He further noted that the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs would be invited to make presentations during OAGF stakeholder sessions to increase awareness and enhance cooperation across implementing agencies. Ogunjimi also revealed that upcoming OAGF circulars relating to budget closure and capital projects would lay specific emphasis on adherence to constituency project guidelines.
The Accountant-General urged the Ministry to sustain its engagements with the National Assembly, implementing MDAs, and other stakeholders to deepen institutional understanding and enforcement of the rules governing these projects.
Earlier in the meeting, Permanent Secretary Onwusoro Ihemelandu lamented the widespread flouting of federal guidelines by many agencies, which he said had led to the disbursement of funds for projects without proper verification or compliance with stipulated procedures. He stressed that this undermines the value and impact of government spending on constituency-based interventions.
Ihemelandu called for stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Special Duties and the OAGF to ensure that no payments are approved for any constituency project unless such projects have been properly verified and certified by his Ministry in accordance with federal standards.
“This partnership is crucial to safeguarding public funds and ensuring that every kobo spent on constituency projects yields measurable benefits for the people,” Ihemelandu emphasized.
Both parties agreed to strengthen inter-agency coordination to enhance transparency, reduce financial leakages, and reinforce accountability mechanisms tied to constituency project execution and funding.