Senegal’s parliamentary opposition is moving forward with a sweeping investigation into allegations of financial irregularities surrounding the government’s flagship ‘One Student, One Laptop’ initiative. The probe, spearheaded by the Pastef-Les Patriotes bloc led by National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko, aims to uncover potential violations that may have cost the state billions.
Parliamentary committee targets potential financial crimes linked to education program
The investigation centers on the ‘One Student, One Laptop’ program, launched in 2017 under the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. According to the Pastef bloc, the initiative has been marred by persistent procedural breaches and financial improprieties that may have cost taxpayers up to 48 billion FCFA over its eight-year lifespan.
Key concerns include the absence of competitive bidding for contracts exceeding 50 million FCFA, failure to submit market approvals to the Central Public Procurement Directorate, and non-compliance with mandatory financial ministerial approvals for contracts valued at 300 million FCFA or more. These violations, the opposition claims, have triggered financial penalties against the state, including a reported 1.25 billion FCFA fine for duplicate payments on a single contract.
Mystery of the 2 billion FCFA guarantee fund at Ecobank
The probe has also uncovered troubling inconsistencies in financial management. Investigators point to a 2 billion FCFA guarantee fund deposited at Ecobank without clear documentation regarding its origin, management, or intended use. Additionally, auditors identified 13 separate bank accounts linked to the program—far exceeding the three accounts officially recorded in service delivery reports.
Further irregularities include unaccounted balances of 864.8 million FCFA distributed across these accounts, approximately 800 unsold laptops stored at Cheikh Anta Diop University—purchased with public funds but never distributed—and recurring allegations of mismanagement and technical defects in delivered devices.
Top officials and institutions under scrutiny
The investigation will examine the roles of ministers, directors, and senior officials who oversaw the program since 2017, including those from:
- The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation
- The Ministry of Finance and Budget
- The General Directorate of Higher Education
- The Directorate of Higher Education Financing
- The Central Public Procurement Directorate
- The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority
- All public, parapublic entities, universities, financial institutions, and individuals involved in the program’s tendering and execution
In 2023 alone, a payment of 1.45 billion FCFA was made via bank transfer to a non-contracting intermediary entity for the delivery of 7,055 laptops to the Cheikh Hamidou Kane Digital University—despite no valid contract being on record for that fiscal year. The Pastef bloc alleges the state was forced to make a second payment for the same service due to these irregularities.
The opposition has called for full transparency, emphasizing that the alleged mismanagement not only raises serious financial concerns but also undermines public trust in government procurement processes.
