Constituency Projects: NEFGAD Calls Out National Assembly For Illegal Interference

A public procurement advocacy group, the Network for Growth and Actualization of Social Growth (NEFGAD), has condemned the National Assembly’s management of constituency projects, calling it illegal, unconstitutional, and detrimental to the country’s budgeting and procurement systems.

In a statement signed by Country Head of Office, Mr. Akingunola Omoniyi, the group argued that constituency projects have no constitutional or legal basis and are used by corrupt politicians to divert public funds.

Omoniyi emphasised that the National Assembly has overstepped its constitutional boundaries by interfering with procurement processes, violating the separation of powers.

“The Public Procurement Act 2007, enacted by the parliament, guides public procurement, including project origination through ministerial procurement committees. These committees conduct needs assessments, feasibility studies, and cost analysis before projects are included in the appropriation bill for legislative scrutiny.

“The National Assembly’s interference with procurement processes undermines the sanctity of power separation and aggravates corruption tendencies in budgeting and public procurement,” he said.

NEFGAD urged the National Assembly to cease its unconstitutional procurement interference and announced plans to seek judicial interpretation through the courts.

The group emphasised that the illegal practice has weakened the Assembly’s oversight powers and destroyed the budgeting and procurement systems.

Constituency Projects: NEFGAD Calls Out National Assembly For Illegal Interference is first published on The Whistler Newspaper