The Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has initiated close cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Finance to ensure the signing of the Subsidiary Loan Agreement by all 36 states in Nigeria, allowing them to benefit from the $500 million World Bank-supported HOPE Governance Programme.
This initiative is designed to enhance service delivery in the fundamental education and primary healthcare sectors at the state level.
Dr. Deborah Odoh, the Permanent Secretary of the Budget Ministry, conveyed this information during a courtesy visit by the HOPE Governance team from the World Bank.
"We have been devising strategies alongside the Federal Ministry of Finance, with the contributions of our esteemed Minister, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. We are determined to expedite this process due to the pressing timelines we face. A schedule has recently been established to facilitate this," she stated.
A statement from Joe Mutah, the Communications Officer for the HOPE Governance Program, indicated that the Permanent Secretary committed to offering all necessary institutional assistance to ensure the HOPE Governance Programme makes a meaningful impact throughout the nation.
"I am pleased that we are convening this discussion, which should have happened much earlier; we are present here consistently. We anticipate seeing substantial outcomes and impact soon," she added.
Ikechukwu John Nweje, the World Bank Task Team Leader for the HOPE Governance Program, earlier urged the Permanent Secretary to utilize every channel within the ministry to engage state governments for the swift signing of the Agreement. This would facilitate their access to funds under the programme after verifying the Disbursement-Linked Results.
"Your assistance in accelerating these procedures would be greatly valued so we can activate the programme regarding disbursement," he said.
He highlighted that governance continues to be a major barrier to improving service delivery within the education and healthcare sectors, which led the federal government to collaborate with the World Bank on the HOPE Governance Program as a solution.
"If governance falters, we will inevitably face persistent issues in these sectors. This is why the ministers have emphasized the importance of governance, as they have identified it as the critical factor that needs addressing to enhance service delivery," he remarked.
Previously, Dr. Assad Hassan, the National Coordinator of the HOPE Governance Program, shared that the meeting was organized with the World Bank to update the Permanent Secretary on the progress made and obstacles faced during the programme's implementation thus far.
The HOPE Governance Program, a $500 million initiative supported by the World Bank, is intended to foster good governance in the management of basic education and primary healthcare in Nigeria.
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