BudgIT’s
Tracka team has again uncovered how legislators divert constituency projects to
personal use.
Tracka was
established to address the critical issues with social and economic development
in the country, such as the exclusion of citizens from developmental projects,
the increasing number of abandoned projects, and poor execution of the few
implemented projects.
This time,
the team visited Kebbi south senatorial district, during which it observed that
a number of projects were captured in the 2016 federal constituency projects.
The tracked
projects include: complete renovation of Zuru Town Hall for N155m, supply of
eight Toyota Hiace ambulances for Zuru, Yauri, Dankwo/Wasagu, Shanga, Sakaba,
Fakai and Ngaski for N160m, provision of 71 motorised boreholes in each of the
71 wards in Kebbi South for N710m and provision of 41 hand pump boreholes in 41
wards of Zuru/Fakai/Sakaba/danko-Wasagu for N61.5m.
In October
2016, the Tracka team held a community engagement meeting with residents and
the Zuru Emirate Development Association (ZEYA) to provide them with relevant
information on the line items in the budget and encourage them to ensure
project delivery through active participation. The community leaders wrote a
letter to their representative, Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah, and the relevant
ministry, requesting an update on the implementation of the projects.
The
community leaders wrote a letter to their representative, Senator Bala Ibn
Na’allah, and the relevant ministry, requesting an update on the implementation
of the projects.
In December
2016, youth leader Nuhu Hussaini informed the Tracka field officer that the
renovation of the Zuru town hall had begun and that one Toyota ambulance
vehicle had been delivered to Yauri General Hospital. The provision of 71
motorised boreholes had also started in the selected wards in Kebbi South
Senatorial District. The team ensured a follow-up with all the project
implementations and observed that some of the empowerment materials purchased
were labelled as donations e.g. the boat and ambulance.
The
residents also expressed displeasure to the team on the renovation of the Zuru
hall for N155m, which they see as a misplaced priority. There are more pressing
needs that will sustain the youth in the community, they said. For example, if
the N155 million was invested in their agriculture, the unemployment rate in
their community would significantly reduce. This will also improve the living
standard of the people, as the state is known as one of the largest producers
of rice.
In June
2017, the project-tracking officer received a call from Zuru community members
informing him of a motorised borehole constructed in the premise of Senator Ibn
Na’Allah Bala. This facility was supposed to be for the community to put an end
to water scarcity. They expressed dissatisfaction over the conversion of public
property into personal use, thus depriving the residents of Zuru community
access to potable water supply.
Editor’s
note: TheCable could not reach the lawmaker for his reaction as calls put
through to his telephone line indicated that it was out of reach.
Saharareporters
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