The office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has dismissed claims by civic organization TrackaNG regarding a school project in Abia State, describing the report as misleading and politically motivated.
Lawmakers Only Facilitate Projects
In a statement signed by Udora Orizu, Special Adviser on Press Affairs to the Deputy Speaker, the office clarified that lawmakers are responsible only for facilitating development projects for their constituencies through the budget process. They do not supervise or execute contracts. The statement emphasized that implementation rests with ministries, departments, and agencies under the executive arm of government.
Alleged Abandonment of N265.3 Million Project
The response followed a report by TrackaNG concerning a project captured in the 2024 federal budget. The civic group posted on X that the federally funded ultra-modern conference and e-learning facility at Bende Secondary Grammar School in Abia State, for which N265.3 million had reportedly been paid, was unknown to the school and appeared to have been relocated to another community. The group also claimed the site was abandoned with no visible work ongoing and called for an investigation into possible mismanagement and accountability concerns.
Office Questions Use of Deputy Speaker's Image
The Deputy Speaker's office noted that it was “curious and mischievous” that the lawmaker’s image was linked to a project over which he had no implementation responsibility. While stating it would ordinarily not respond to the publication, the office decided to address the matter to prevent public misinformation. It called on the relevant government agency responsible for the project to investigate thoroughly and ensure accountability if any wrongdoing is established.
Clarification on Project Location
The office also clarified issues surrounding the project location, stating that the initial reference to Bende Secondary Grammar School was an error because the school already has an ICT centre. The project was originally intended for Onuinyang, and a corrigendum was later issued to correct the location in the budget documentation. The office maintained that its priority was to ensure the project was completed and delivered for the benefit of residents in the constituency.
FG Disburses N2.45 Trillion to States for Infrastructure
In a related development, state governments and the Federal Capital Territory received a total of N2.45 trillion from the federal government between March 2024 and August 2025 to support infrastructure development and security interventions. According to internal documents from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the funds were disbursed over 17 months under a special intervention programme financed through non-oil revenue savings. However, concerns have grown over how the funds are being used by state governments.
