Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has promised to judiciously utilize the N13.6bn that accrued to the state from the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme.
He made the promise during a meeting with stakeholders from the 13 local government areas of the state at the Government House on Monday.
The federal government had in line with its drive to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years sought and obtained assistance from the World Bank to the tune of $750 million for on-lending to the states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to implement a two-year emergency response programme under the NG-CARES.
Each state is allocated ex-ante $20 million, FCT $15 million and the federal CARES support unit is allocated $15 million.
Governor Sule said among the projects to be executed include 15 km of roads in each of the 13 local government areas of the states and provision of boreholes. He said all the projects would be executed according to NG-CARES guidelines.
According to him, the state came top among its peers in the country in the implementation of the NG-CARES programme, receiving over N13 billion for the effort.
He said the funds were disbursed based on the results achieved by the states and FCT in their efforts at supporting poor and vulnerable Nigerians under the NG-CARES programme. The top three best-performing states in the second round of assessment are Nasarawa, earning N13,697,828,496.96; Cross River State which got N10,944,747,818.84bn; and Zamfara State with N10,231,055,267.82bn.
Governor Sule said he has sought the collaboration of stakeholders from the state to buy-in and own the projects tied to the funds that would be executed.
“I am happy to announce to you that Nasarawa State came first. And Nasarawa State got 13.6bn. And the money that is given to us is already in our account. And the money will go into various areas of distribution. The reason why I found it extremely important to hold such a meeting is because so many things were mentioned about Nasarawa State when that money was being given,” he stated.
He said the meeting with stakeholders became necessary because NG-CARES believed that in Nasarawa State the windfall would be utilized judiciously.
“That is a heavy statement that I am taking seriously, and that explains why I am calling for this meeting. I want every one of us to take this matter seriously. I had a meeting already with the team from NG-CARES this morning. I called their attention and asked them to come and work in tandem with all of us.
“I am pleading with our stakeholders who are here, to help us by taking responsibility in ensuring that whatever job these people are carrying out, let us take it as our responsibility to check and ensure that job is being done in line with the laid down guidelines. “And let us take ownership of these projects so that the next time Nasarawa State comes tops again. I am looking forward to especially our royal fathers and political office holders, especially chairmen of local government who would be there also,” Mr Sule stated.
