Constituency Project Bill not an avenue for lawmakers to steal money

The Senator said further that critics of the bill probably don’t understand what the term “constituency project” means.

She made the comments during an interview with The Cable. Excerpts below:

Critics say your constituency project bill is an avenue for lawmakers to steal money, giving the fact that funds for constituency projects have been diverted in the past; can you explain what this bill really entails?

I think they are not just being fair, either because they have not read or because they have failed to understand. And I will make an excuse for them to say they probably they don’t understand what constituency project is. And what is constituency project?

It is about those projects that are domiciled in our communities. It is about those projects that will bring infrastructural development. That will bring and bridge the gap that exists in our development. For instance, it is impossible for the minister of budget and planning to know all the communities in Nigeria.

It is even impossible for him to even spell my community, and probably your community. He is just a human being. And so the only way you can address that is through constituency project development, and that will come through the various representatives of the people who know what the gaps are, how they are, and so know how and what to prioritize.

I think for us to have a bottom-up, holistic development in Nigeria, we must mainstream and prioritize our community development through constituency projects. What is constituency? They are those we represent, the communities. Don’t forget too, the legislature doesn’t execute. They don’t implement. The executive will have to implement it.

All that will be required of legislators in constituency project is to identify where these projects will be domiciled. It is for me to say for instance, that my community needs water, and not a school. And so because I know the communities, and I live with them, I can identify their needs, and make sure that the projects are executed. But the processes for the award of contracts, and whom they are awarded to, are not the business of the legislators.

Have you considered the drawback of your independent candidacy bill – one of which is that it may make running for political office a free-for-all?

I don’t think so. There will be criteria. It has worked in the US. Indeed, it is a global best practice. If you bring it back home it will give the electorate the opportunity to choose who they want.

We may not like political party B or political party C, but we like this individual. So, people will have direct access to choose their leaders. It will also remove the issue of imposition. It will not be a free-for-all. The best will emerge.

ALSO READ: Stella Oduah threatens to sue Sahara Reporters

Oduah, in December 2016, argued that at least 20 per cent of the annual budget of the Federal Government should be allocated to constituency projects.