In pursuing its mission of deepening and institutionalizing transparency and accountability in governance, a grassroot NGO Spotlight for Transparency and Accountability Initiative visited Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe state to track the implementation of ongoing government projects.
The project trackers team led by Mohammed kime visited Tarmuwa primary school where the school Headmaster decried lack of inclusion of the school management.
โAs the headmaster, no one from the government side will intimate you of projects that will be implemented in your school. Itโs when the project starts that you will see labourers digging foundationโ.
When asked of the standard of the projects being implemented, the headmaster toured the members of the Community of practice(CoP) across the newly renovated block of classroom to see for themselves.
While inspecting the recently renovated class, the CoP, said the floor has already started cracking and doors replaced are of substandard quality.
The same story of shoddy implementation of educational projects was met on a visit by the team to another Primary School in Babbangida.
The Community of Practice(CoP)also visited traditional rulers,leaders of faith based organizations, representative of women and youth leaders to sensitize them on the need of monitoring projects being implemented in their community.
During the meeting, Muhammad Kime added that โStakeholder meeting will go a long way in addressing the issue of lack of inclusion in decision and policy making in communities.Moreover,you donโt expect firms who obtained contracts through bribery and kickbacks to adhere to the BOQ because it is not all the monies that was initially approved that was given to start the workโ.
The stakeholders said that unless urgent solutions are proffered, the scenario of poor implementation projects will repeat itself in zonal intervention projects where millions of Naira is being earmarked.