Sonko probes 2 billion FCFA in alleged misuse of student laptop funds
A parliamentary probe is underway to uncover alleged financial irregularities in the ‘One Student, One Laptop’ program, with potential losses exceeding billions of FCFA.
Parliamentary commission targets alleged financial irregularities
The parliamentary group Pastef-Les Patriotes, led by National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko, has initiated a formal investigation into the procurement and execution of contracts under the ‘One Student, One Laptop’ program. This initiative, launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (Mesri), has accumulated total expenditures of approximately 48 billion FCFA over eight editions, averaging six billion FCFA annually.
Investigators allege that since 2017, the program has operated outside legal procurement frameworks. Key violations include:
- Failure to conduct competitive bidding for contracts exceeding 50 million FCFA, violating Article 53 of the Public Procurement Code
- Absence of prior oversight by the Central Directorate of Public Procurement (Dcmp), contravening Article 142
- Non-registration of the program in the ministry’s procurement plan, breaching Article 6
- Lack of financial minister approval for contracts exceeding 300 million FCFA, as required by Article 29
These procedural gaps allegedly resulted in an additional 1.25 billion FCFA payment to the state and potential embezzlement exceeding one billion FCFA.
Mysteries surrounding a 2 billion FCFA guarantee fund
Investigators have uncovered serious concerns regarding a two billion FCFA guarantee fund deposited with Ecobank. Critical questions persist about its origin, management structure, and intended use. Additional red flags include:
- Thirteen bank accounts linked to the program, though only three were officially documented
- Unverified disbursement of 864.8 million FCFA across these accounts
- An inventory of 800 unused computers stored at Cheikh Anta Diop University, purchased with public funds but never distributed
- Documented malfunctions in the distributed devices
In the 2023 program edition alone, investigators allege that 1.45 billion FCFA was transferred to a non-contracting intermediary company for computer deliveries to the Cheikh Hamidou Kane Digital University, despite the absence of any valid contract documentation.
Who faces scrutiny in this financial probe?
The investigation targets all officials and entities involved in the program’s implementation since 2017, including:
- Ministers of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation
- Ministers of Finance and Budget
- Director General of Higher Education
- Directorate of Higher Education Financing (Dfees)
- Central Directorate of Public Procurement (Dcmp)
- Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (Arcop)
- All public, semi-public entities, universities, financial institutions, and individuals connected to the program
The parliamentary commission argues that these alleged irregularities constitute serious breaches with potentially severe economic and social consequences for Senegal. The investigation aims to establish full accountability for what investigators describe as a systematic circumvention of legal procurement procedures.
