The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye said any contractor found wanting in the implementation of constituency projects assigned to him will be prosecuted.
Prof Owasanoye said the nation has spent about N2 trillion on the projects since 2000 without commensurate development at the grassroots
The ICPC chief said that the ongoing tracking of constituency projects by the commission in 12 states of the federation was not to witch-hunt anyone.
Owasanoye made the declarations while delivering a lecture titled: “The role of quantity surveyors in the fight against corruption, especially in the construction industry”, at the induction of corporate members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) in Abuja.
A statement by the ICPC spokesperson, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, quoted Owasanoye as commending NIQS for its collaboration and participation in the ongoing exercise.
He said the commission commenced the Constituency Projects Tracking Group (CPTG) initiative to ensure proper implementation of funded projects at the various constituencies across the nation.
The ICPC also commending the NIQS for its collaboration and participation in the on-going initiative, which he noted, was already yielding positive results.
Some contractors, he informed, had gone back to site to complete unfinished projects.
The ICPC chair urged members of NIQS to join the fight against corruption because of the critical role they play in the construction industry which is very important to the development of any nation, as the sector creates a lot of jobs and is inevitable in the society.
He urged the inductees to observe the rules of their code of ethics as it underlines the important role they play and discourages corruption in the process of performing their assignments.
The inductees were also advised not to use their profession against the society by engaging in corrupt acts, but to use it for public interest, as their positive efforts to rid Nigeria of corruption would not only help the profession but also the society at large.
The ICPC boss proposed to the institute to set up a committee to monitor projects as a public interest intervention in order to shed light on the true cost of projects.
He expressed the hope that the inductees would become the beacons of correction, professionals with integrity as well as part of the solution and not the problem to improving the situation of corruption in the profession and the nation.
NIQS’ immediate past president and chairperson of the event, Mrs. Mercy Iytortyer, urged the inductees not to limit the event to their years of hard work but to the progress that lies ahead of them.
She added that they were expected to observe the professional ethics and standards, and contribute positively to the development of the nation and therefore must live exemplary lives for the younger generation to follow.
The President of the body, Obafemi Onashile, encouraged the inductees to participate in the institutes’ activities, showcase the knowledge gathered and acquire competencies that would be at per with global standards.
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