Civic accountability organisation, the Monitoring and Investigative Team of Nigeria (MonITNG), has accused a member of the House of Representatives, Makaman Duguri, of misusing federal Zonal Intervention Funds by converting public resources into political patronage in his constituency.
In a statement released on Sunday, MonITNG expressed alarm over what it described as “ongoing misuse” of public funds by the lawmaker, who represents Alkaleri and Kirfi Federal Constituency in Bauchi State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the group, the lawmaker’s recent actions “highlight a disturbing pattern where public resources meant for critical grassroots projects are being converted into political empowerment tools.”
MonITNG emphasised that Zonal Intervention Projects, commonly known as constituency projects, are fully funded by the Nigerian federal government and must be executed strictly through the appropriate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) using accredited contractors.
“At best, a lawmaker’s role is to provide oversight, ensure transparency, and guarantee that citizens actually feel the impact of these projects,” the group stated.
“However, what we are seeing in this case is a complete deviation from that mandate.”
The organisation cited Duguri’s recent “Mega Empowerment” event, during which he distributed:
- 20 cars
- 150 motorcycles
- ₦200 million in cash
- Sewing machines
- Bicycles for persons with disabilities
- Water pumps
- Other branded items
MonITNG said the items were branded with the lawmaker’s image and APC symbols, raising concerns about the legality of branding publicly funded materials for personal political promotion.
“This scale of distribution combined with political branding raises serious questions about transparency and accountability,” the group said.
One of the organisation’s major red flags is the direct distribution of large cash sums, which MonITNG says undermines financial accountability and opens the door to political favouritism.
“It raises suspicion about whether the intended amounts actually reach the beneficiaries or whether the process is manipulated to reward party loyalists,” the organisation said.
Despite the high-profile empowerment event, MonITNG lamented that many communities in the constituency remain heavily underserved.
Residents, the group noted, continue to face:
- Dilapidated schools without functional classrooms
- Health centres lacking equipment and staff
- Persistent lack of clean water in many communities
“Instead of addressing these urgent needs, Zonal Intervention Funds are being repackaged as personal gifts and political empowerment tools,” MonITNG said.
MonITNG urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch an investigation into the lawmaker’s handling of the funds.
“We call on @icpcnigeria and @officialEFCC to investigate the handling of these funds, the procurement process, the criteria used to select beneficiaries, and the legality of branding publicly funded items with a politician’s image,” the group demanded.
The organisation warned that the misuse of public resources threatens democratic accountability.
“Public funds must not become instruments of political influence,” it said.
“Citizens deserve transparent, community-driven development, not patronage disguised as empowerment.”