From Owen Akenzua, Asaba
Delta State Executive Council has ushered in a new era in project monitoring/audit with the directive to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to obtain a counter-certificate revalidating all projects executed by them before payments are made.
This was made known by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Monitoring/Audit, Engr Goodnews Agbi during an interactive meeting with staff of various MDAs aimed at working out ways for seamless enforcement of the mandate.
Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the meeting, Agbi described it as a sound decision, adding that it would pave way for the realisation of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s ‘MORE’ agenda which places priority on value for money for all physical projects, as well as goods and other items necessitating public expenditure.
During the meeting, it was agreed that all milestone certificates have to come to the Directorate of Project Monitoring/Audit before they are listed for payment. Reacting to an apparent agitation in the meeting room, Agbi said government was not out to witch-hunt anybody, but the mandate is in line with the governor’s zero-tolerance for shoddy jobs which is well known to MDAs and contractors in the state.
Speaking on the new mandate, he said: “the decision is the best for the state hinged on past experiences. The governor is out to change the old narrative whereby a particular MDA scopes a job, employs a consultant, appoints a contractor, supervises the job by itself, that is milestone supervision and at the end, raises a certificate for payment.
“If you look at it, there is likelihood of infractions in that process. So, there is the need for a third party to come in and that is the Directorate of Project Monitoring/Audit in ensuring that was is being executed is according to BEME, that is the rules set up for the execution of that project.”
He said despite initial reservations by MDAs, it was agreed that “before they list projects for payment to the Ministry of Economic Planning and the Accountant-General, it would come to the Directorate of Project Monitoring and Audit to ensure that the certificates they raise are verified and seen to be commensurate with the project on ground.”
The special adviser noted the discomfort among the MDAs present, but disabused their minds on the issue of delay.
He assured them that the process of validation would not be more than 48 hours.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Patricia Esejo said the approval was given last month, following which the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, issued an information letter, while reiterating that the directive would be put to action with the anticipated cooperation of all MDAs.
She urged MDAs to understand that the governor is working for posterity and urged her colleagues to join hands with the Directorate of Project Monitoring and Audit to ensure that the directive is fully complied with.
