As a new administration in Kano has set in, constituents from different constituencies in Kano state are demanding accountability in the conduct of constituency projects. They want new and returning lawmakers in the state to be accountable to constituents.
Sule Abdullahi and Haruna Alhassan, constituents of Gezawa/Gabasawa Federal constituency have spent more than 10 years witnessing how constituency projects are awarded and either not carried out, or uncompleted in their constituency.
As they walk down an untarred road along Gezawa town hall in Gezawa Local Government Area (LGA), they appraised some of the completed and available projects but are worried about the numerous abandoned or poorly conducted constituency projects.
Constituency projects are nominated into the budget by lawmakers on behalf of the constituents and executed by contractors, in an effort to extend the dividends of democratic governance to the various constituencies.
While the friends (Abdullahi and Hassan) walked down the road, Abdullahi told Daily News24 that specific constituency projects which have been nominated and lay waste causes hardship to the intended beneficiaries.
“For Gezawa/Gabasawa constituency, we have gotten a new representative and I urge him to complete some of the projects which the previous rep. wasn’t able to complete it. Asides from that, we want him to enquire from the people about their needs before carrying out a project in any community because needs assessment is very important.
“I advise Honorable Nalaraba to complete the projects that the former rep didn’t complete and I believe that when we advise him, we will listen to us.
Like Abdullahi, Sharif Minjibir, a member of Minjibir Youth Development Association, is sad at the low quality of projects carried out in his LGA. According to him, community members in his LGA are completely gloomy at some of the substandard projects that oftentimes, do not stand the test of time.
“We feel so bad at the way public funds are wasted and in our town hall meetings, some of these issues are highlighted. Moving forward, we will carry out sensitization to other youths in the Minjibir to educate them on their rights so as to demand accountability in the conduct of constituency projects.”
For Mariya Shehu, a constituent of Kunchi LGA, if her representative performs below pass mark in the conduct of constituency projects, she will not vote him in the next election.
“I have been educated on my rights and how our lawmakers fail to carry out meaningful constituency projects that will positively affect the lives of the people. Till date, we still don’t have reliable access to potable drinking water in Kunchi.
“We have so many challenges that we want this incoming administration to tackle squarely. I and my community members are hopeful that this new administration will deliver on its promises. If they don’t, we will not consider them in the next polls.” She said.
The Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), in an effort to educate grassroots on their rights and prerogative to hold their representatives accountable, carried out community engagements across the three senatorial zones in Kano.
Zuwaira Omar, the program officer at CHRICED stated that the lack of accountability in the conduct of constituency projects has made certain lawmakers act with impunity even when they have underperformed for their constituents.
“While there are some projects that have been completed and some ongoing, some are abandoned and I urge residents of Kano to track their constituency projects and to see that there is an end to the corrupt practices of some lawmakers in Kano.
“Constituents should own these projects and make sure they follow up with their representatives to complete uncompleted or haphazardly done projects because the projects are done with public funds.” She said.
