The Federal Government has reiterated that only the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs has the mandate to certify for payments for Zonal Intervention Projects and Constituency Projects executed by Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

The information was contained in a service-wide circular titled, “Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP) and Constituency Projects (CP)”, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume.

According to the circular, no payment shall be made to any contractor for ZIP/CP by MDAs without verification of the execution of such projects/programmes and certification by FMSDIGA.

It further stated that, “Implementing MDAs shall invite the FMSDIGA to verify all zonal Intervention/Constituency Projects (ZIP/CP) as contained in both ZIP Appropriation and Capital Appropriation”, adding that non-compliance with the guidelines has led to a lack of proper implementation of the programmes and projects.

On the issue of funding for the verification exercise, the circular stated read that funds for the purpose of the verification exercise shall be sourced from the Project Administration Funds of the ZIP/CP under the purview of the various MDAs.

The circular further read that it became imperative to reissue it again, following flagrant disregard by implementing MDAs, stressing that henceforth, “MDAs that fail to comply with this circular shall be excluded from the implementation of ZIP/CP in subsequent FGN budgets.”