The #FollowTheMoney Team during its data mining session found a tender advertisement of  Ondo State Conditional Grants Scheme Implementation Committee under the Intergovernmental Affairs and Multilateral Relations Department of the Governor’s Office. Amongst the projects on the tender advertisement (find here) to be executed under the 2014/2015 Conditional Grants Scheme State Track included the construction of school toilet with cargo textures and drilling of a borehole at Ayorinde Baptist Primary School, Iyere in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo LGA of the state. The school has a total number of population 106, with 6 government teachers and one addition teacher which was enlisted by the PTA community to assist with the running of the school.

We have initiated the #WaterIyere Campaign to track the implementation of the projects at the primary school. Through this campaign, we call on all concerned stakeholders, especially the Intergovernmental Affairs and Multilateral Relations Department of Ondo State Governor’s Office to uphold the public interest through the accountable and transparent management of the fund that have/would be released for the projects.

We invite the public to get involved in the Campaign today. Help us follow the money to ensure that the water borehole and toilets are built for the primary school in order to provide adequate and clean water access/sanitary facility to the pupils.

Join us through ifollowthemoney.org

 

Headmaster and Community Leaders Yet to Access Bill of Quantities and Project Specification

08 March 2018: It is noteworthy that implementation only started or received a boost after a comprehensive media coverage on the sluggish pace of work or implementation. After our media interventions, workers and contractors were seen mobilized to site. However, the community leaders and headmaster were yet to access the BoQ for proper monitoring and oversight. Follow The Money shall continue to pressurize the contractor to make project details public to enable robust citizens engagement and dialogue.

Completion of Classroom Constructions Will Lead to the Breath of Fresh Air for the Pupils

08 March 2018: We noted with pleasure, the renovation and construction of buildings in the school premises. The projects were at advanced stages. Upon completion, the pupils would experience fresh breath as they would no longer be required to learn under the scorching sun or under the trees.

Project Beneficiaries Happy on the Installation of Water in School 

A completed motorized borehole and storage tanks in the school

08 March 2017: It was an ecstatic moment for stakeholders and beneficiaries that experienced potable water flow in the school. The drilling of the motorised borehole was neatly constructed with two (2) overhead tanks for storage. The pupils were seen happy that they could now wash their hand after using the toilet or playing during recreational periods.

We Witnessed the School Having Electricity for the First Time

Picture showing the installed solar inverter on top of the building

08 March 2017: Upon our arrival at the school premises, we saw various works in place and we were very happy with the level of work being carried out. The installation of 2.5KVA solar power inverter had been completed and put to use. For the first time, electricity was supplied/experienced in this school.

Follow the Money Team Follow-Up Shows Work Currently Ongoing 

08 March 2018: Following our comprehensive media coverage on the sluggish pace of implementation, in our follow up visit to the school to monitor project implementation, workers were seen re-mobilized to site, the tempo of project implementation increased. Also in our commitment and efforts to ensuring the completion of all ongoing projects in the school, we interfaced with stakeholders and got feedback on the status and quality of project implementation.

Community Member Claimed the Pupils Were Moved to Nearby Church for Classes

23 November 2017: Speaking with a community stakeholder, Mr Azeez Saibu, he commented that an old block of classrooms was brought down for the new construction which has not started since the past 3 months. As a result, the school only has 2 classrooms, where different classes share spaces. So shortly before some of the kids were moved to a nearby church space for classes, one of them was bitten by a snake while they were studying under a tree.

Community Fears That the Ongoing Projects Might be Abandoned

Old school project that was abandoned

23 November 2017:  Speaking with Mr Omotola Ebenezer, one of the community leaders, he commented that they fear the new projects might be abandoned. The fear he explained was as a result of a previous governmental project that was carried out in this same school. Which after a while, got abandoned with no trace of who the contractors or government in charge of such project was. Although, all attempts he made was to no avail in trying to get in touch with the government regarding the project.

Community Stakeholders Are Unaware of the Project 

23 November 2017: During the town hall meeting, the headmaster, Mr Rotimi commented, “we lack knowledge of the project amounts for the components of the ongoing intervention. I do not know the timeline and do not have access to the bills of quantities to be able to monitor the projects and hold the contractor to account. I do not even know the contractor.” The opacity being hawked by the CGS committee provides an avenue for corruption to thrive or the community being hornswoggled.

Media Reports on the Townhall Meeting

23 November 2017: The town hall meeting was reported massively by several media platforms calling on the government to fast-track the project’s implementation and provide specifics. Some of them are here:

http://citymirrornews.com/index.php/2017/11/25/iyere-community-appeals-to-ondo-govt-to-complete-ongoing-school-projects/

https://dailyfamily.ng/snake-bits-pupil-during-lecture/

https://dailytimes.ng/news/ondo-community-begs-akeredolu-abandoned-school-projects/amp/

http://www.ebonyheraldmagazine.net/community-and-the-people/community-appeals-to-government-not-to-abandon-ongoing-projects-in-their-area/

Ondo State Government Representative Refuses to Attend the Townhall Meeting

23 November 2017: During a town hall meeting at Ayorinde Baptist P.S, the implementing agency, the Ondo State Conditional Grants Scheme (CGS) Committee under the Intergovernmental Affairs and Multilateral Relations Department of the Governor’s Office failed to show up during the town hall meeting. This was despite the fact that they were invited.

Find the full report here.

Follow the Money Champions Went for Community Outreach in The Community

23 October 2017: Follow The Money Champions in Ondo State went to Ayorinde Baptist Primary School, Iyere to investigate/track project implementation. The water project construction has been ongoing for the past 6 weeks and since then they have only been successful at sinking the hole with other parts of the construction been on a halt since September 18, 2017. The school fear that the project might have been abandoned.

Find the full report here.

The School is Forced to Use Old Pit Toilet

23 October 2017: On our visit, we realized that there have been no signs of any construction regarding the toilet so far. We are hoping that on our next visit there would have been a lot of recent work carried out within the primary school. But for now, they are still making use of the old pit toilet.

No Signs of Recent Work in The School

23 October 2017: Regardless the water borehole and toilets, there were many other projects at the same school as part of the 2014/2015 Conditional Grants Scheme. We were shown the class block area that was dilapidated and very old, which was already destroyed before our visit and there was no sign of any recent work since the past 3 weeks.

Headmaster Excited About the Ongoing Transformations

23 October 2017: In an interview with the headmaster, Mr Iyebo Rotimi Williams, he commented that his expectation from the ongoing transformation is that, he believes that by the end of it all, the school will be able to take on a new shape and become one of the best there is in that community.