The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) said it would no longer authorise payment for constituency projects that do not comply with government guidelines and circulars on execution and payment.

The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Babatunde Ogunjimi, made this known when the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu, visited him in Abuja.

He said the OAGF would work within its mandate to promote compliance with government guidelines and circulars on execution and payment for constituency projects.

Ogunjimi reaffirmed the support of the OAGF to the campaign by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs to enforce compliance with government guidelines and circulars on execution and payment for constituency projects.

“We will give bite to these guidelines; we will ensure that the guidelines are projected adequately and that they become part of the prerequisite documentation for all constituency projects,” the AGF said.

He promised that the guidelines on constituency projects would be made an important part of discussions at all the OAGF engagements with its stakeholders and that the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs would be allowed to make presentations on such occasions.

Ogunjimi noted that in line with the OAGF circulars on closure and capital projects, emphasis would be made on compliance with the guidelines on constituency projects.

He advised the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs to continue the engagement with relevant government agencies, stakeholders and the National Assembly to increase awareness.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Onwusoro Ihemelandu, requested that no payments should be made for constituency projects that are not executed in line with the Federal Government guidelines and circulars and duly certified by his ministry.

The permanent secretary observed that despite guidelines and circulars, many agencies have executed and paid for constituency projects without adherence to the guidelines or did due verification.

He pointed out that the practice does not allow the government to get maximum value for the funds spent on the projects.

Ihemelandu appealed for collaboration between his ministry and the OAGF to guarantee that the guidelines are implemented fully and no payments are made for constituency projects until after verification by his ministry.