IKIRE, Nigeria — The Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Dr. ‘Lere Oyewumi, disclosed on Friday, September 1, 2023, that the 10th National Assembly plans to investigate over 10,000 abandoned Federal Government projects across the country.
The lawmaker, who represents the Osun West Senatorial District, divulged this information while speaking with journalists in Ikire.
According to Oyewumi, many of these abandoned projects had received budget approval and, on government papers, were considered completed.
“When you got to the site, nothing was being done,” Oyewumi said.
He elaborated that lawmakers would use their recess period to gather information about these projects and report back to the Senate.
He added that Anyone responsible for delays or abandonment would be held accountable.
“I was at Osun State University, Ikire campus, and also visited the Federal College of Education, Iwo. At Ikire, a contract was awarded in 2010 but uncompleted until now, a lecture theatre. If you get to TETfund now, they will tell you that Osun State University, Ikire campus is supposed to have about five lecture theatres, but there is only one functioning,” Oyewumi said.
The Deputy Minority Leader expressed the Senate’s resolve to address this widespread problem.
“We resolved at the Senate that within these four years, we don’t want to see such abandoned projects again,” he said.
Senators have been tasked with identifying abandoned projects in their districts to better understand the scale and reasons for the incompletion.
“Somebody must be responsible; such a person will not go free. These are parts of the corrections the 10th Senate wants to make,” Oyewumi said emphatically.
Regarding autonomy for local government, Oyewumi noted that the National Assembly had done its part by granting council areas the freedom to manage their affairs.
The onus, he said, should now be on the states to ensure total compliance with the law.
The probe into abandoned projects comes at a time when many in Nigeria are increasingly concerned about government accountability and effective use of public resources.
With Dr. Oyewumi’s announcement, the 10th National Assembly signals its commitment to improving oversight and delivering on promises to the public.
