By Sam Otuonye
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP), Dr. Deborah Odoh has inaugurated the Technical Working Committee of the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Governance Program in the Ministry.
She noted that the establishment of the National Technical Committee marks an important milestone in the implementation of the HOPE program, stating that the program is poised to compliment the Renewed Hope Ward Development program in the improvement of service delivery and human capital development at the grassroots level.
The HOPE Governance Program is a 500 million World Bank assisted initiative domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
According to her, ” the program compliments the Renewed Hope Ward Development Program by ensuring that governance reforms translates into tangible improvements in service delivery and human capital outcomes at the grassroots level”.
She hinted that the National Technical Committee had the Term of Reference to oversee and offer technical guidance related to the program’s result areas and capacity building efforts.
She urged all members to approach the responsibility with commitment, professionalism and a shared sense of purpose as the success of the HOPE Governance Program would depend largely on our collective ability to work together in driving reforms that improve the lives and well beings of Nigerians.
The National Coordinator of the HOPE Governance Program Dr. Hassan Assad while addressing Constraints in Basic Education and Primary Health care in his presentation, informed the committee that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has revised its guidelines to enhance States access to intervention funds in line with the program’s Disbursement Linked Results (DLRs).
He further stated that the reversed guidelines also require UBEC to publish amounts transferred to States and dates such transfers were made on a quarterly basis on UBEC website.
According to him, Paragraph 3.5 of the UBEC Guidelines establishes a clear deadline for States to access and utilize their matching grant intervention funds, with non-compliance resulting in forfeiture of funds to UBEC for re-allocation. This ensures that scarce public resources are put to work by improving basic education through meeting the pressing needs of children and schools.
Dr. Assad reiterated that one of the main objectives of the HOPE Governance Program was to increase the availability and effectiveness of financing for the basic education and primary healthcare sectors. He stated that the findings for the States and FCT on the Disbursement Linked Results (DLRs) currently being verified by independent Verification Agent, would soon be unveiled.
The committee is chaired by the Permanent Secretary FMBEP Dr Deborah Odoh, with the Directors of Plans and Projects, Social Development, Human Resource Management, Finance and Accounts, Procurement, Information, International Cooperation, Monitoring and Evaluation, Legal Services, Information and Communication Technology serving as members.
Other members of the Committee are, representatives of Federal Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Education and Finance, UBEC and NPHCDA.
