Sonko targets 2 billion FCFA in alleged mismanagement of student laptop program

The investigation has begun, and no stone is being left unturned to uncover the full truth behind the “One Student, One Laptop” program. Under the leadership of Ousmane Sonko, the Pastef parliamentary group is launching a commission of inquiry into alleged irregularities in the awarding and execution of contracts tied to this initiative.

Parliamentary inquiry launched to uncover financial discrepancies

Facing potential breaches of protocol and violations of public procurement laws, the investigation targets the program’s financial management since its inception in 2017. The “One Student, One Laptop” program, with an annual budget of around six billion FCFA, has accumulated a total expenditure of 48 billion FCFA. Sonko and his team argue that the program has operated outside legal frameworks, leading to a potential second payment of 1.25 billion FCFA by the state and alleged embezzlement of over one billion FCFA.

The parliamentary commission, spearheaded by Sonko, aims to scrutinize every aspect of the program’s implementation. The initiative, which began under Sonko’s tenure as Prime Minister, now falls under the microscope of the National Assembly, where he serves as President.

Unverified fund of 2 billion FCFA raises concerns

The investigation has uncovered several irregularities, including:

• Contracts exceeding 50 million FCFA awarded without public tenders, violating Article 53 of the Public Procurement Code;
• Failure to consult the Directorate of Public Procurement Control (DCMP), in breach of Article 142;
• Absence of program registration in the ministry’s procurement plan, contravening Article 6;
• Lack of approval from the Finance Minister for contracts worth over 300 million FCFA, as required by Article 29.

Additionally, a two-billion FCFA guarantee fund deposited with Ecobank remains shrouded in mystery, with no transparency on its origin, management, or utilization. The program is also linked to 13 bank accounts, far exceeding the three mentioned in a service delivery report, and includes an undocumented balance of 864.8 million FCFA. Moreover, around 800 unsold and dysfunctional laptops are reportedly stocked at Cheikh Anta Diop University, acquired using public funds.

Key officials under scrutiny for financial mismanagement

The commission is also probing the 2023 edition of the program, where 1.446 billion FCFA was transferred to the Université Numérique Cheikh Hamidou Kane for the purchase of 7,055 laptops. Concerns arise from the lack of contracts or agreements between the Higher Education Directorate and the involved companies, raising questions about the legitimacy of the transactions. The state is alleged to have been forced into a second payment, further deepening the financial irregularities.

Among those under investigation are ministers, directors, and officials who held roles in the following entities since 2017:

• Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation;
• Ministry of Finance and Budget;
• General Directorate of Higher Education;
• Directorate of Higher Education Financing;
• Central Directorate of Public Procurement;
• Public Procurement Regulatory Authority;
• All other public, semi-public, financial institutions, universities, and individuals involved in the program’s contracts.

The findings could have significant economic and social repercussions, prompting the Pastef group to demand a thorough and transparent inquiry.