The hunt is on, and every detail matters in shedding light on the procurement irregularities surrounding the « One Student, One Laptop » initiative. The Pastef parliamentary group, led by Ousmane Sonko, has launched a formal investigation into alleged financial mismanagement and procurement violations in the program’s implementation since 2017.
At the heart of the investigation is a potential two-billion FCFA ($3.3 million) unaccounted fund deposited with Ecobank, along with a series of financial discrepancies and procedural breaches that may have cost the State dearly. Sonko, now President of the National Assembly, has vowed to uncover the truth behind these irregularities, which could have far-reaching economic and social consequences for Senegal.
Alleged Violations and Questionable Financial Practices
The investigation focuses on eight editions of the program, which has seen an estimated total expenditure of 48 billion FCFA ($80 million)—averaging around 6 billion FCFA ($10 million) annually. Key concerns include:
- Lack of competitive bidding for contracts exceeding 50 million FCFA, violating Article 53 of the Public Procurement Code;
- Failure to submit contracts for prior review by the Central Directorate of Public Procurement (DCMP), as required by Article 142;
- Absence of the program from the ministry’s procurement plan, in breach of Article 6;
- Failure to secure ministerial approval for contracts exceeding 300 million FCFA, as mandated by Article 29.
These procedural lapses, the Pastef group argues, have resulted in repeated financial setbacks, including a 1.25 billion FCFA ($2.1 million) payment made to the State by mistake due to irregular contract execution. Additionally, allegations of embezzlement totaling over 1 billion FCFA ($1.7 million) have surfaced, with repeated violations across multiple program editions.
A Trail of Financial Opaqueness
The investigation has uncovered further irregularities, including:
- A 2 billion FCFA ($3.3 million) guarantee fund deposited with Ecobank without transparency on its origin, management, or use;
- Thirteen (13) bank accounts and sub-accounts linked to the program, despite official records mentioning only three;
- Unverified expenditure of 864.8 million FCFA ($1.4 million) distributed across these accounts;
- Around 800 unsold and defective laptops stored at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD), purchased with public funds.
The Pastef group has also highlighted a 1.446 billion FCFA ($2.4 million) payment in August 2023 for 7,055 laptops to the Digital University of Cheikh Hamidou Kane. However, no valid contract or agreement was found to justify this transaction, raising concerns about possible misappropriation and double payments by the State.
Who’s Under the Spotlight?
The inquiry will scrutinize all officials and entities involved in the program’s execution and oversight, including:
- Ministers of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation;
- Ministers of Finance and Budget;
- Directorates under the Ministry of Higher Education;
- Central Directorate of Public Procurement (DCMP);
- Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP);
- Financial institutions and private entities linked to the program.
Sonko’s team insists that the evidence warrants a thorough parliamentary probe to determine accountability and recover any misused funds. The investigation aims to restore public trust and ensure strict adherence to procurement laws in future programs.
