The Fiscal Responsibility Commission is to begin this year’s verification of federal government capital projects across the six geopolitical zones on Monday, the Acting Chairman of the commission, Victor Muruako, has said.
Muruako, who disclosed that the commission would verify 95 projects, said the exercise was in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
He called for the amendment of the commission’s Act to enable it to deliver on its mandate.
Muruako who spoke in Abuja on Friday said the Act needs to be reviewed to strengthen the commission and stipulate punishment for offenses.
He said the exercise this year would focus more on the aviation sector, projects executed by the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps, stressing that the aim is to ensure that citizens get value for their money, and every kobo spent by the federal government is well utilized.
“Verification must be done in line with the Medium Term Expenditure Framework so as to ensure that government embarks on projects that it has the ability to fund,” he noted.
He said some of the projects earmarked for verification in the North-East include the Federal Medical Center, Jalingo, power evacuation project at Kashimbila Dam, road construction project in Billiri, Gombe State, Police Secondary schools in Bauchi, Yola, and Maiduguri, among others.
He added that more projects to be verified in the South-West are the extension and asphalt overlay of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport runway; completion of control/technical tower at Ibadan airport; rehabilitation of Lagos-Sagamu dual carriageway section 1 in Lagos State, and dualisation of Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan Road, Phase 1.
In the South-East, the FRC will verify projects such as the rehabilitation of Otuocha-Anam-Nzam-Innoma-Iheaka-Ibaji section of Otuocha-Ibaji-Odulu-Ajegwu in Anambra State, as well as ongoing work at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatrist Hospital, Enugu.
Also speaking, the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mashood Olatijani said the commission was facing funding challenges.
