By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
The Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Mr. Patrick Ukah, has stated that the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (NG-CARES) evidently fell within the social intervention category which was one of the key areas of focus of the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
Ukah made the disclosure when he received the World Bank Team in Nigeria and The State Committee on NG- CARES led by the State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr. Barry Gbe, on courtesy visit, on Thursday, 8 September, 2022 in Asaba.
He said the program could not have come at a better time to assist the State Government in providing the much-needed support to cushion the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the World. Thus, the State was indeed appreciative of the World Bank and the Federal Government support.
The Delta State SSG revealed that the State had continued to benefit from the robust partnership and support of the World Bank, particularly in the area of public financial reforms and social intervention programs.
Ukah noted that to underscore the implementation of the CARES Program in the State, Governor Okowa approved huge sum of money for the implementation of the Micro & Small Enterprises, (MSEs) (Result Area 3) component of the program, out of which a substantial amount was released to the Delta State Micro, Small & Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency.
“This culminated in the flag off of the disbursement of the grants to 1818 MSEs by Governor Okowa in September, 2021.” He added.
The SSG also revealed that, “In March, 2022 the Delta State Executive Council approved billions of naira to fund activities under Result Area 1 & 2 of the CARES Program comprising of the World Bank advance and the one to be provided the State Government.
Adding, he said “The World Bank advance was immediately released to the Program’s Delivery Platforms which they have made remarkable progress towards achieving expected milestones.
“To show further commitment to the success of the program, Governor Okowa, during the flag off of the Result Area 1&2 of the program in August, 2022, expressly directed that the outstanding sums for the program, be released to the Delivery Platforms for the CARES program implementation.”
While expressing the State gratitude for the extension of the support, appealing and enjoining the visitors to ensure that they take all necessary steps in assisting the State towards achieving the much expected results, the SSG gave the assurance that the funds would soon be released as all necessary processes had been concluded.
Earlier, the World Bank Lead Specialist and Task Team Leader of NG-CARES, World Bank Country Office, Abuja, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, said implementation of the Programme was the Federal Government initiative with support from the World Bank to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Okunmadewa noted that the programme was designed in such a way that the states would spend their own money in the first batch before being refunded after proper verification and validation
“We call it prior results. When the independent verification agents go there, they will count the results that they have achieved along with the ones that they are going to achieve.,”
Okunmadewa stated that the aim of the ongoing workshop at the State Ministry of Economic Planning was to familiarize all operators of the programme at the Federal and State levels with the implementation and implications of what had been designed.
“It is a collaboration between the World Bank, the Federal Government and the 36 state governments.” He reiterated.
Okunmadewa commended Delta State being the best in delivery the programmes in the country.
“Delta State is in the 1st Class Cabinet of the Delivery Platforms. Other States should copy Delta State in the CARES Programme implementation.” He said while commending the State Government.