Kebbi residents have told transparency platform, Tracka, how a serving Nigerian senator wasted N38 million on an ill-timed, needless motor park.
The residents of Mahuta in Kebbi South Senatorial District told Tracka that the motor park which was built at a rather exaggerated price and of no value to the residents.
Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah had nominated the project in the 2017 budget but electorate argue that no consultation was done before the project was nominated.
During a civic education engagement in Fakai local government area of Kebbi South Senatorial District, Tracka discovered that most of the residents where not informed about the project and that the project was over-inflated.
“One of the basic principles of good governance is that we have transparent and accountable leaders who seek constituents’ insight before initiating any project in the national budget,” a resident told Tracka.
Tracka explained to electorate that citizens should be enabled to track and monitor the work of their representatives as well as familiarise themselves with the type of projects the community needs in a clear and understandable way.
We tracked a N38m motor park with NURTW office at Muhuta community in Kebbi state. This project was nominated by Sen Bala Na’Allah, completed but under lock and key. Community rejected the project and informed Tracka team that no need assessment was carried out.#GetInvolved pic.twitter.com/6hXdIccWhz
— Tracka.ng (@TrackaNG) August 21, 2018
Tracka recalls that in October 2017, it held a town hall meeting with the community in collaboration with Zuru Emirate Youth Association.
The transparency and accountability platform also wrote a letter to Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah to demand for the status of the project.
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The senator who in 2015 became unpopular for sponsoring a bill to regualte social media in Nigeria did not reply Tracka.
“Though, no response was received from the senator at the time, we noticed that the project received expedite execution,” Tracka told Chronicle NG.
“As at 20 August 2018 the motor park is under lock and key and the community see the project as misplaced priority due to the fact that the amount is not reflecting on the said project,” Tracka added.
A resident who craved anonymity told Tracka that, “We see it as misplaced of priority as many villages within the local government don’t have potable water and good schools.”
Another resident lamented the money spent on the project. “The fence is already falling off, with health care a major problem, I find it difficult to believe that N38 million was wasted on a motor park.
Tracka reckons that until residents deem it fit to follow up projects, ask questions and engages their representatives, the attitude of lawmakers will continue at the detriment of the masses.
Good people of Kebbi South Senatorial district. Here are some of the 2018 Constituency Projects nominated by Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah. Kindly ensure you engage your representatives and MDAs. responsible for the execution of these projects#GetInvolved #2018ConstituencyProjects pic.twitter.com/bIUI1GaB0d
— Tracka.ng (@TrackaNG) August 20, 2018
“The masses must wake up to their responsibilities and demand for an accountable and transparent governance from their representatives,” Tracka said.
The transparency agency has extended it civic education engagements with translation of its content to Hausa and Yoruba languages.
