An unprecedented parliamentary commission is set to uncover the full extent of alleged financial misconduct in the government’s flagship student laptop initiative.
Parliamentary group Pastef-Les Patriotes has initiated a sweeping parliamentary investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the procurement and execution of contracts for the « One Student, One Laptop » program, which has accumulated expenditures of approximately 48 billion FCFA since its launch in 2017.
The probe, spearheaded by National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko, seeks to examine potential breaches of public procurement laws that may have led to financial losses exceeding 2.25 billion FCFA through irregular contract awards and questionable fund management.
Uncovering procedural violations in government contracts
The investigation focuses on several alleged procedural violations that have persisted since the program’s inception. These include contracts exceeding 50 million FCFA awarded without proper bidding processes, failure to obtain required prior approvals from the Central Public Procurement Directorate, and the absence of proper contract documentation and financial oversight by the Ministry of Finance.
« The program has operated outside legal procurement frameworks since 2017, » states a parliamentary source involved in the investigation. « Repeated irregular contracts worth billions have been signed without competitive bidding, proper documentation, or required ministerial approvals in violation of multiple articles of the Public Procurement Code. »
Mysteries surrounding a missing two-billion-franc guarantee fund
Beyond procurement irregularities, investigators have uncovered additional anomalies in fund management. A two-billion-franc guarantee fund was allegedly deposited with Ecobank without proper documentation regarding its origin, management structure, or intended use.
Financial records reveal discrepancies between official documentation and actual fund movements. While only three bank accounts were initially documented in service transfer protocols, investigators have identified 13 separate accounts and sub-accounts linked to the program. An unexplained balance of 864.8 million FCFA was dispersed across these accounts, and approximately 800 unsold computers remain in storage at Cheikh Anta Diop University, many showing technical defects.
Who will face scrutiny in the coming investigation?
The parliamentary commission will examine the roles of numerous officials and institutions involved in the program’s management since 2017. Targets include ministers of Higher Education and Finance, directors of relevant government agencies, university administrators, and financial institutions that processed payments to non-contracting intermediary companies.
Particular attention is being paid to a 2023 payment of 1.4 billion FCFA made to the Université numérique Cheikh Hamidou Kane for 7,055 computers, despite the absence of any valid contract between the government and the receiving entity. Investigators have found no documentation justifying these payments to an intermediary company not officially contracted by the state.
« The repeated violations and financial irregularities demonstrate a systematic failure in governance that demands thorough investigation, » states a member of the investigative committee. « The public deserves to know where these billions went and who bears responsibility for this mismanagement. »