Commission embarks on verification of projects in Lagos
NAN-HG-2
Verification
By Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, Nov. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has began the verification of some capital projects in selected health institutions in Lagos State to ascertain the level of work done.
Alhaji Moshood Tijani, Head, Monitoring and Evaluation, FRC, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
Tijani explained that the exercise was part of its functions to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of government finances.
“The exercise started on Monday. The verification team included some members from various departments of the FRC and Mr Aminu Idris, who represented the Federal Ministry of Health.
“The hospitals verified were the National Orthopaedic Hospital (NOHI), Igbobi; Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Meta, and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba,’’ he said.
According to Tijani, the exercise will also aim at collating challenges as identified by the institutions and making the necessary recommendations to the appropriate ministries and offices.
“The main function of FRC is to ensure the good management of national resources, such that in managing the resources that are accrued to the various government agencies, there is transparency and accountability.
“We are here to physically verify selected projects in 2014 and aspects of revenue remittance in these institutions.
“We are to assess the situation, look at where the projects are sited, level of work, challenges in execution, as well as proffer solutions and make recommendations to the Presidency, relevant ministries and National Assembly.
“This is in accordance with our vision to create an enduring framework for effective and transparent financial management in Nigeria.
“We want to ensure there is that value for money as appropriated by the government for execution of projects.
“We have a template that they should give us; a template on when the project started, how much have been given and what is or was required to complete the project,’’ he said.
At the NOHI, the projects inspected included the Administration Block, Accident and Emergency building, General Out-Patient building (GOPD) and the Theatre.
Commenting on the projects, Tijani said: “The Administration block is about the only project, out of the four that we came to inspect, that is completed and ready for use.
“The Admin building looks very fine outside but the finishing on the floor tiles is poor; the contractor did not do a good job, perhaps due to poor supervision.
“At the Theatre complex, from our inspection, it is about 90 per cent complete and the quality of job there is quite good; we are happy with that.
“It is the kind of project that will be of benefit to the generality of the people, who are unfortunate to have cause to make use of this hospital,’’ he said.
The team leader added that: “Work at the GOPD is more or else on hold; we are of the view that the management of the hospital should do everything possible to get the contractors back on site.
“We feel that particular attention should be paid to the theatre building, which is almost complete, because it is of more importance for public use than the Admin block.’’
At the FMC Ebute-Metta, some of the projects verified included the digital equipment in the CT Room of the radio diagnostic unit, SCD project laboratory, neonatal screening machine and oxygen plant.
Tijani also told the management of the institution that the exercise would synchronise the budget allocation and expenditure on projects within a time limit.
“We specifically mentioned projects within 2014, but while looking at that, there is no way we cannot go back because most of the projects started some years earlier.
“We want to test the efficiency of the allocation process for capital projects by budget office, and the utilisation of those allocated funds.
“This will be in terms of how well you execute these projects and how you are able to access those funds and the timing of completion,’’ he said.
Responding, Dr Olubukola Aseru, the Acting Medical Director, FMC Ebute-Meta, said: “We at FMC have been able to manage the resources within our limits.
“We do not have outstanding projects especially as our space does not allow for sprawling projects.
“However, we categorise our medical and diagnostic equipment, buy incrementally and replace when the need arises.
“We also try to increase the services that we provide, by having one or two more equipment, better than what we have had before.
“However, we need funds to develop our permanent site in Badagry.’’
Tijani commended the management of FMC Ebute-Meta for their ingenuity and prudence.
He also encouraged them to regularly make their returns to the TSA, as stiffer penalties were being worked out for defaulters.
At the LUTH, some of the projects inspected included the Biomedical Engineering building, Children Emergency Centre, Interns Accommodation, as well as equipment in some wards and the Assisted Fertility Centre.
The verification team expressed satisfaction at some of the projects that were near completion and tasked the hospital’s management to efficiently supervise other projects that were still ongoing.
Tijani said there was also need for better collaboration and communication among the various units and departments in the institution for improved healthcare delivery. (NAN)
VIV/MST/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola