The hunt has begun, and no stone will be left unturned in uncovering the full truth behind the Un Étudiant, Un Ordinateur program’s procurement deals.
Parliamentary inquiry targets alleged misuse of $2 billion FCFA in education program
The Pastef-Les Patriotes parliamentary group, led by National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko, has initiated a parliamentary commission of inquiry into alleged irregularities in the procurement and execution of contracts for the Un Étudiant, Un Ordinateur program. The program, launched in 2017 under the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (Mesri), has accumulated expenditures of approximately 48 billion FCFA over eight editions—roughly 6 billion FCFA annually.
Investigations reveal that the program has operated outside the legal framework for public procurement. Key concerns include:
- Lack of competitive bidding for contracts exceeding 50 million FCFA, violating Article 53 of the Public Procurement Code
- Failure to consult the Direction centrale des marchés publics (Dcmp) for prior approval, as required by Article 142
- Absence of the program from the Mesri’s procurement plan, breaching Article 6
- Failure to secure mandatory approval from the Finance Minister for contracts exceeding 300 million FCFA, in violation of Article 29
These irregularities allegedly led to a 1.25 billion FCFA penalty against the State, with additional claims of embezzlement exceeding 1 billion FCFA. The commission aims to scrutinize the roles of ministers, directors, and officials who managed the program since its inception.
Unaccounted funds and mismanagement exposed
Further investigations highlight a 2 billion FCFA guarantee fund deposited with Ecobank, shrouded in secrecy regarding its origin, management, and usage. Additionally, 13 bank accounts—far exceeding the three mentioned in official records—were reportedly used for the program. Unverified transfers totaling 864.8 million FCFA were dispersed across these accounts, while 800 unsold computers remain in storage at Université Cheikh Anta Diop (Ucad), purchased with public funds.
In 2023, a payment of 1.446 billion FCFA was made for 7,055 computers to a non-contracting intermediary entity, despite no valid contract being on record. The State is alleged to have been forced into a second payment for the same services.
Who is under scrutiny?
The inquiry will examine officials from the following institutions and periods:
- Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (Mesri)
- Ministry of Finance and Budget
- Direction générale de l’Enseignement supérieur
- Direction du financement des établissements d’enseignement supérieur (Dfees)
- Direction centrale des marchés publics (Dcmp)
- Autorité de régulation de la commande publique (Arcop)
- All other public, parapublic, financial entities, and individuals involved in the program’s contracts since 2017
The Pastef group asserts that these irregularities pose serious economic and social risks, warranting a thorough parliamentary investigation to restore transparency and accountability.
