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N100bn Constituency Projects: Presidency Takes Lion Share -ICPC
A week after President Muhammadu Buhari taunted Nigeria’s legislators for wasting over a trillion Naira in two decades without anything to show for it under the guise of implementing Constituency Projects, the details of how the N100 billion earmarked for the scheme in this year’s budget has been made public.
The ICPC revealed yesterday in Abuja that the Ministry of Agriculture and agencies under the Presidency take the lion share of Zonal Intervention Projects popularly known as Constituency Projects in the 2019 budget.
The breakdown of the allocations given by the Chairman of the ICPC, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, at the launch of a scheme to take constituency projects to the grassroots and make them to key into the scheme, indicated that the Northern part of the country got N51.9 b while the South was allocated N44.2 billion.
The document, which was circulated to participants at the event, tagged “Roundtable for Media Executives on Community ownership of Constituency Projects” showed that in terms of regional breakdown the North West got the highest allocation with N17.97 billion followed by the North Central with N17.90 and North East with N16.06 billion.
The project is to be jointed executed by the National Orientation Agency, NOA, ActionAid and the ICPC in order to make constituency projects more relevant to the citizens of Nigeria and add value to their lives as against the current practice where the money meant for the scheme is mismanaged.
On the other hand, the South-South got N15.14 billion followed by South East which was allocated N14.85 while the South West was given N14.28 billion out of the N100 billion vote for constituency projects.
On a state basis, Kano got the highest number of projects worth N5.2 billion followed by Niger State with N4.4 billion and Edo State with N4 billion.
Enugu State came forth with projects worth N3.7 billion while Anambra and Bauchi states following with projects valued at N3.7 billion and N3.5 billion respectively.
Chairman of ICPC, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, explained that with the involvement of communities, the management and implementation of constituency projects would not be the same again, as the people are the ones to choose projects most relevant to their needs and to take ownership of such after the provision by the government.
“If we don’t do something urgent to change the way constituency projects are handled in this country, there would still be challenges while huge government funds continue to be used with little or nothing to show,” the chairman warned.
“Our goal is not to stop constituency projects but to make them more effective and sustainable with value for public funds put into the scheme by the government,” Owasanoye said.
The Director-General of the NOA, Dr Garba Abari, said his agency was pleased to work with the ICPC and ActionAid to drive the new initiative aimed at making constituency projects to deliver more benefits to Nigerians and make the impact of the government felt at the grassroots.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.