Jutha Gupah, Damaturu
Governor Mai Mala Buni financial transparency and accountability, has earned the World Bank grants of N20 billion in Yobe state.
The two-year grant, followed the State’s impressive performances under the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital and Communications, Yusuf Ali, disclosed, yesterday (Wednesday), in a statement in Damaturu that the fund had been utilized for infrastructure development and social services.
According to him, the infrastructural facilities and social services have direct bearings on the lives of the people in the state.
His words: “The SFTAS is a programme by the World Bank and Federal Government to deepen transparency in budgeting processes for the qualified states.
“It consists of different requirements, including Disbursement Link Indicators (DLIs).”
He explained that they are assigned tasks that the World Bank designed for institutions, as well as states that are qualified to participate in budgeting and budgetary performance indicators.
Continued; “The second component is Disbursement Linked Results, with World Bank’s Independent Verification Assessors use as yardsticks to assess institutions and States’ performance compliance in relation to DLI’s performance evaluation.
The synopsis of SFTAS, he added, is predicated on performance for results.
He noted that 36 States can earn financial grant rewards after performance in all indicators of budgetary requirements.
The said after meeting the budgetary requirements, the World Bank rewards the State based on results of its efforts
The Yobe State Commissioner of Finance, Musa Mustapha said that the consistent budget cycle of the State, entrenchment of due process and inclusiveness by the administration played a crucial role in achieving the World Bank feat.
Besides, he added: “It is gratifying and a matter of particular importance to note that Yobe has won the overall top performer awards on SFTAS.
“Its performance in all Disbursement Link Indicators won the overall best state for the top performer award.”
He said that the World Bank award was recently presented by Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning in Abuja.
According to him, the State will continue to run an accountable and transparent government.
He said the State government is working assiduously to earn the 2023 grant in the same capacity from the bank.
End.
