Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu denies involvement in disputed Abia school project

The office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu has denied involvement in the execution of a disputed school project in Abia state captured in the 2024 Federal Government budget.

In a statement issued on Friday, Udora Orizu, a media aide of the Deputy Speaker, described a report published by TrackNG on the project as misleading.

The controversy centres on the construction and furnishing of an ultra-modern conference and e-learning facility at Bende Secondary Grammar School in Bende LGA of Abia state.

Orizu said lawmakers only facilitate projects to their constituencies and are not responsible for procurement or implementation.

Part of the statement read: “The Office of the Deputy Speaker categorically states that the role of a legislator is to attract projects and development initiatives to his constituency. The legislature neither serves as the procuring agency nor supervises the execution of such projects.”

“Implementation remains strictly the responsibility of the executive arm of government and its relevant agencies.”

The deputy speaker’s office described the publication as a politically motivated narrative aimed at misleading members of the public.

“It is therefore curious and mischievous that the image of the Deputy Speaker was used in connection with a project over which he has no implementation or supervisory responsibility,” the statement reads.

The office called on the relevant government agency to investigate the matter and hold contractors accountable where necessary.

“We call on the appropriate procuring agency to take immediate steps to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that whoever was awarded the contract is held accountable in line with the law.

“For us, our primary concern remains that the project is completed and delivered for the benefit of the people of the constituency,” it said.

The office also clarified that the initial naming of Bende Secondary Grammar School as the project location was an error.

“On the issue of the project location, it is important to clarify that the initial naming of Bende Secondary Grammar School was an error, as the school already has an ICT Centre.

“The project was originally intended for Onuinyang, and a corrigendum was subsequently issued to correct the location accordingly,” the statement concluded.