The Senate has thrown its weight behind the continued monitoring of constituency projects by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), rejecting an attempt to halt the anti-graft agency’s oversight activities.
The decision followed a heated debate during plenary after a motion introduced by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu sought to stop the commission from tracking federal constituency projects across the country.
Kalu argued that the ICPC’s involvement amounted to an encroachment on the constitutional responsibilities of committees of the National Assembly of Nigeria, which are tasked with supervising the implementation of such projects.
However, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele opposed the motion, insisting that the anti-corruption agency was acting within its legal mandate to ensure transparency and accountability in the execution of publicly funded projects.
Bamidele noted that the ICPC had monitored several constituency projects, including those linked to him and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, without any complaints from lawmakers.
“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, the ICPC has the mandate to track projects. Even as the Leader of the Senate, my projects are being tracked in my constituency,” he said.
“Many of our colleagues here know that their projects are also being monitored. There is nothing to worry about because these are projects meant for the benefit of our constituents.”
He warned that preventing the commission from performing its duties would weaken transparency in the management of public funds.
Bamidele also raised procedural concerns about the motion, arguing that it did not comply with Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders governing the introduction of motions.
According to him, the proposal lacked a seconder and was presented without the required consent of the chamber, making it procedurally defective.
“To the extent that it was not properly seconded and the necessary consent was not sought before presentation, the motion cannot stand,” he said.
He advised that concerns regarding the ICPC’s monitoring activities should be addressed administratively rather than through a motion on the Senate floor.
Earlier in the session, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided before Akpabio arrived, supported the continued monitoring of projects by the ICPC.
Barau emphasised that contractors handling government-funded projects must be subjected to strict oversight to ensure value for money and accountability.
When Akpabio later took over the session, he ruled that the issue should be handled administratively, effectively bringing an end to the attempt to stop the ICPC from tracking constituency projects nationwide.
