Published 2025-05-13
Abstract
The Constituency development project has been in existence in Nigeria
for more than a decade now. This decentralisation arrangement is
considered very relevant because it has the potential of provoking rural
and community development. However, this crucial arrangement has
not yielded commendableoutputs in Nigeria. Thus, this paper examines
the arguments for and against this veritable initiative.To achieve the
objectives, the study used qualitative approach. Information were
sourced from existing literature on the practice of the scheme in other
climes such as Kenya and India, where it has been existing for a long
period now in order to borrow some best ideas to enhance our practice
in Nigeria. The study also reviewed relevant documents related to
constituency development projects in Nigeria. David Easton version of
system theory was adopted to underpin the study. From the documents
reviewed, some prominent challenges such as corruption, lack of need
assessment of what communities want before contracts are awarded
and other procedural blunders were found. These issues weigh heavily
against the realisation of the policy goals. Hence, the paper supports
the discontinuation of the policy, but with a condition. The condition is
that the policy can be continued with if the indelible recommendation
made in this paper could be judiciously implemented, because the
policy itself is not bad, but for the implementation. Accordingly, the
paper recommendsthat a structure like District Authorities through
which can provide their inputs, as obtains in India should be put in
place. This structure should appoint implementing agencies after a
project might have been recommended by the MPs in conjunction with
the community. This strategy breeds checks and balances in the system
and perpetually decreases corrupt tendencies. Also, funds should be
made non-lapsable. A fund not fully spent in a financial year should be
rolled over to the following year and needs assessment should be
carried out before contracts are granted. These are among other future
directions provided in the paper.