“Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions,”
– Pres Barrack Obama (44th POTUS)
“Leaving behind a crop of very strong institutions, that will be my legacy”
– Gov ‘Seyi Makinde
On Thursday May, 10, 2024 at about 1PM (GMT+1), right within the precinct of the Governos office, the Executive Governor of Oyo State; HE Gov ‘Seyi Makinde FNSE, D.Sc., GSSRS, signed the ‘Oyo State Project Monitoring Agency Bill” into law in the presence of top government functionaries from the Executive and Legislative Arms of government in Oyo State to wit;
The Deputy Governor, HE Barr Abdulraheem Adebayo Lawal
• The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly (OYHA), Rt. Hon Edward Adebo Ogundoyin
Deputy Speaker and chairman House Committee on Special Duties OYHA: Hon Mohammed Abiodun Fadeyi
• Secretary to State Government: Prof Olanike Adeyemo
– Chief of Staff to the Governor: Hon Segun Ogunwuyi
• Head of Service: Mrs Olubunmi Oni mni
• Hon Commissioners present included the Attorney General & Hon Commissioner for Justice: Barr Abiodun Aikomo
– Hon Commissioner for Public Works & Transport: Prof kehinde Dahud Sangodoyin.
– Hon Commissioner for Special duties: Alhaja Joke Fausat Sanni.
• Executive Assistant on Project Monitoring : Engr Open Salawu
– Representative of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Vice chairman Oyo State branch: Engr Ayo Ojedele FNSE
– Representative of the Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors, chairman Oyo State branch: QS Fisayo Ogunjimi
Here is what you need to know about the Agency and the law backing its establishment but first, some history of Project Monitoring in Oyo State.
Project Monitoring in Oyo State Before now…
Just before officially presenting the bill to the governor, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly who also currently doubles as the Chairman Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures from across Nigeria; Rt Hon Edward Adebo Ogundoyin, in his remarks, cited a couple of instances where the lack lustre project monitoring or the outright lack of it, had hampered certain infrastructural development in the state. He specifically mentioned the struggling Oyo State Water Corporation with respect to how previous administrations had mismanaged funds allocated and disbursed for projects to ensure adequate water supply.
According to him, contractors had received up to 30% of the total contract sum as mobilisation fund with the projects eventually not seeing the light of the day and no form of retribution whatsoever.
The Governor also shared an instance where the Oyo State First Technical University (Now Sen Abiola Ajimobi Technical University), had some huge sums of money paid out without the express knowledge albeit approval of the University’s Governing board.
These instances, and many more, necessitated the need to establish the Oyo State Project Monitoring Agency, which will be saddled with responsibilities targeted at ensuring the Pace setter State gets maximum benefits from every kobo spent on any project.
Composition of the Agency; Leadership and Steering Committee…
According to the law establishing the Agency, The Oyo State Project Monitoring Agency shall have a ‘Steering Committee’ which shall be responsible for the discharge of the Agency.
The Steering Committee shall consist of a chairman which shall be appointed by the Governor, the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties, Honourable Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Honourable Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Director General Bureau of Public Procurement and Due Process, a representative of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, a representative of the Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors and finally an Executive Secretary who shall serve as the secretary of the Committee.
Mandate of the Agency…
The newly established Oyo State Project Monitoring Agency, according to the law establishing it, shall henceforth be saddled with the following responsibilities and others.
1. Supervise the implementation of projects after the issuance of Certificate of no objection by the BPP.
2. Investigating the conduct and activities of any person in relation to contract awarded and executed by any contractor in the State.
3. Liaise with the procuring entity in a bid to ensure effective performance, execution and delivery.
4. Report any fraudulent and unethical misappropriation on the part of any contractor to the Oyo State Anti-corruption Agency.
5. Develop and maintain a framework to support the monitoring evaluation and reporting of the performance of the various projects.
6. Monitor and evaluate the performance levels of consultants and contractors.
The Goodnews…
Suffice to say that with the takeoff of this Agency, our dear Oyo State is now perfectly poised to ensure maximum value is received on all projects, procurements and investments on behalf of the citizenry.
This is yet another master stroke from the Omituntun 2.0 good governance masterclass of the Seyi Makinde led government of Oyo State.
In conclusion, it is pertinent to encourage all and sundry that we join hands with this result-oriented and development-focused government as we work towards achieving the Oyo State of our dreams.
God bless Oyo State,
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Oladayo Ogunbowale is Special Assistant on Communications to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
