The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has pledged to intensify enforcement of government guidelines on the execution and payment of constituency projects, promising to clamp down on irregularities that have long plagued the disbursement of public funds.

This was made known in a statement on Thursday by the OAGF’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, following a meeting between the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Babatunde Ogunjimi, and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr Onwusoro Ihemelandu, in Abuja.

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

“We will give bite to these guidelines; we will ensure that this guideline is projected adequately and that it becomes part of the prerequisite documentation for all constituency projects,” the AGF said.

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

Ogunjimi further disclosed that in 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 engagement with relevant government agencies, stakeholders, and the National Assembly to increase awareness of the guidelines and circulars.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ihemelandu, urged 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 the Ministry.

He observed that despite Federal Government guidelines and circulars, many agencies have executed and paid for constituency projects without adherence to the guidelines and due verification.

The statement read, “The Permanent Secretary observed that despite Federal Government’s guidelines and circulars, many Agencies have executed and paid for constituency projects without adherence to the guidelines and circulars and due verification.

“He pointed out that this practice does not allow the government to get maximum value for the funds spent on these 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 unless after verification by his Ministry,” the statement noted.