National Assembly Member Bakary Badjie of Foni Bintang has urged fellow lawmakers to eliminate the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), following the presentation of a report by the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC). The FPAC report, delivered in Banjul, detailed the audited financial statements of public institutions for the period spanning 2020 to 2024. Badjie's call for the fund's removal comes amid ongoing scrutiny of public finances and concerns over its efficacy and oversight. He has explicitly called on lawmakers to remove the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from operation.
Auditor General's Damning Findings
The auditor general stated that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) exhibited serious instances of "poor management" and "significant waste" of funds. The auditor general's findings noted numerous irregularities and a lack of proper financial controls within the fund. In 2022, D2.6 million was disbursed for projects and activities without the required approval from the Clerk. This specific instance shows a clear breach of established financial protocols and internal regulations governing the fund's operations.
Further irregularities included the absence of delivery documentation for D3.5 million allocated to several projects. These projects involved the installation of milling machines and the construction or fencing of football fields. The lack of proper documentation raises significant questions about the accountability and transparency of these expenditures, suggesting potential mismanagement of public resources. Payments ranging from D299,500 to D300,000 were made to various suppliers, including Sarr Construction, Kasna Enterprise, Arafat Trading, Filly’s Enterprise, Jabus Trading, HJ Global Sourcing, SB Brothers Weldings, Jabbie Jarka Enterprise, Yoroba Sitaa, and Dawda Solar Borehole. The auditor general's report meticulously documented these payments, noting the consistent range of amounts paid to these diverse entities for various services and supplies related to the CDF projects.
Mechanism and Project Failures
The Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) report identified "administrative lapses" in the Constituency Development Fund's management, supervision, and monitoring. These shortcomings have resulted in projects remaining incomplete or not being delivered, according to the report. The majority of these initiatives are either still unfinished beyond their scheduled timelines or were never implemented, as noted by the FPAC's review. This widespread failure to complete or deliver projects undermines the very purpose of the fund, which is intended to foster development at the constituency level.
Under the fund's mechanism, National Assembly Members (NAMs) are permitted to propose a project for their constituency, valued at D500,000, which is then to be executed by the National Assembly Authority. This structure places significant responsibility on both the NAMs for proposal generation and the National Assembly Authority for effective implementation and oversight. The administrative lapses identified by the FPAC directly impact this mechanism, leading to the observed project failures. The report pointed to these "administrative lapses" in the management, supervision, and monitoring of the Fund as a direct cause of the incompletion or non-delivery of projects.
Lawmaker's Accusations and Call to Action
National Assembly Member Bakary Badjie asserted that corruption permeates all sectors of the government, extending to the National Assembly itself. Badjie voiced these concerns as he called for the Constituency Development Fund's abolition. He specifically stated that corruption is "cutting through all sectors of the government, including the National Assembly." He also announced his intention to pursue the presidency, signaling a broader ambition beyond his current legislative role. Badjie's strong stance against the CDF and his public pronouncements reflect a deep-seated concern about the integrity of public institutions.
Broader Corruption Context
National Assembly Member Bakary Badjie accused the National Assembly authorities of creating the Constituency Development Fund scheme for "selfish" gains. He made these remarks as he reiterated his call for the fund's abolition, advocating for its complete removal. Badjie has also announced his intention to pursue the presidency, indicating a broader political ambition beyond his current legislative role. The lawmaker previously stated that corruption permeates all sectors of the government, including the National Assembly itself, a claim he has consistently maintained. These accusations follow a report by the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) detailing financial irregularities within the fund, providing a factual basis for Badjie's concerns regarding the fund's operation and management.
