Nigerians demand Saraki, Dogara, others account for billions received for constituency projects

Senator Bukola Saraki and Honourable Yakubu Dogara are yet to account for constituency projects nominated by them

It has been revealed that the billions of naira received by the leadership of the national assembly and its members in the 2017 budget is yet to be accounted for.

Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara nominated projects that were included in last year’s budget but are yet to be seen.

In a bid to track down the projects, Tracka, a social platform that consists of active citizens tracking implementation of government projects revealed that many projects by the NASS leadership were unaccounted.

In a series of tweets, it revealed that Saraki, Dogara and others got billions of naira for projects that are yet to be seen.

On its official account, Tracka wrote, “Dear @bukolasaraki We are aware you nominated a N 1,050,000,000 in 2017 budget for the construction of a blk of a classroom with furniture and VIP toilet with a store in 42 locations @N25m within Kwara Central Senatorial District. What is the implementation status of the project?

READ: Trump cracks under pressure, reverses migrant separation policy

With no response from the Senator Saraki who is representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Tracka sent an official letter to his office demanding that he replies. “With respect to 2017 Zonal Intervention Projects, We are sending out a request letter to @bukolasaraki to avail us with the locations and the implementation status with projects in Kwara Central Senatorial District. We will appreciate an urgent response to our request.

With respect to 2017 Zonal Intervention Projects, We are sending out a request letter to @bukolasaraki to avail us with the locations and the implementation status with projects in Kwara Central Senatorial District. We will appreciate an urgent response to our request pic.twitter.com/FUavIBwRg6

— Tracka.ng (@TrackaNG) June 20, 2018

But Tracka had only just begun. It was Dogara who came up next on the radar. “Dear @YakubDogara Tracka is aware you nominated a N720m project in 2017 budget for the construction and completion of rural roads, rural electrification of villages, water projects, harvesting structures to Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi state. What’s the status of the project?

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce who is representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District has nominated projects with status unknown. “Dear @benmurraybruce, we are aware you nominated a N40m project in 2017 budget for training and exhibition in Brass, Nembe and Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa East Senatorial District. What is the implementation status of the project? since FG has released 70% funds for projects.

Murray-Bruce who often claims to make common sense had other projects on his hands. “Dear @benmurraybruce, we are aware you nominated a N140m in the 2017 budget for crop cultivation and animal husbandry in Brass, Nembe and Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa East Senatorial District. What is the implementation status of the project? Has the project been executed?

Responding to Tracka’s demands, Orgatitus on Twitter wrote, “Keep digging, era of impunity is gone. I got your back. People must be held accountable and pay for mismanagement of public funds.”

Another Twitter user, Kwara Nigeria claimed that Saraki has not done the projects. “Is that N1 billion plus? 42 locations in Kwara Central? But still you can’t see anything from these projects because he didn’t do it.”

But not everyone was having a go at the Senate President. I am Baba Idris tweeted in support of Saraki, claiming that Tracka is losing credibility. “You are guys are becoming noise makers and gradually losing credibility.. His Director of Projects @OlayinkaIbrah12 urged you to ask him any question about Saraki’s project but because you get response every time , you feel you can be coming at Saraki to populate your handle?

When Saraki’s Director of Projects was contacted by Tracka, he demanded an official letter refusing to answer via social media.