Monday February 23, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed that about 25 percent of constituency and executive projects inspected were either incomplete or not properly executed in Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking during a radio programme monitored by WatchmanPost, the head of the executive and constituency project tracking team, Mr. Okam Okuku, said the Commission carried out a four-day annual inspection exercise.
He said the team tracked 71 projects and additionally reviewed six primary healthcare projects, bringing the total number of monitored projects to 76.
According to Okuku, preliminary findings show that about 75 percent of the projects were satisfactorily executed, while 25 percent had lapses. He noted that the exercise is still ongoing and that further assessments would address complaints from contractors.
During inspections in Ibesikpo Asutan Ward 1, the team visited three primary healthcare centres where solar power installations were supposed to have been provided.
However, one of the centres had not been solarised as required, despite provisions for solar panels, inverters and batteries.
Okuku emphasised that constituency projects are funded with taxpayers’ money, not personal funds of senators or House of Assembly members.
He explained that lawmakers only facilitate the allocation of federal funds to their constituencies and should align projects with the actual needs of the people.
He urged citizens to actively engage their representatives to ensure that projects reflect community priorities.
The ICPC official further stated that the commission operates under a three-point mandate: enforcement, system study and review, and public enlightenment.
Under its enlightenment campaign, tagged “My Community, My Project,” the commission engages communities to educate them on the purpose of public projects and the need to safeguard them.
On system review, Okuku explained that the commission also works with relevant ministries and agencies. He cited a recent collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works to verify contractors’ claims regarding unpaid projects.
The findings were forwarded to the ministry to guide payment decisions.
He added that contractors who fail to complete projects as specified may be required to return allocated funds, stressing that public funds must be used strictly for the purposes for which they were budgeted.
(WatchmanPost)