The Senior Special Assistant to the President on the Millennium Development Goals, Dr. Precious K. Gbeneol has charged State Governors, Local Government Chairmen, development partners and other stakeholders to accelerate development effort in this winding down phase of the Millennium Development Goals.
Dr Gbeneol made this call while speaking at a meeting with the Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime represented by his Deputy, Sunday Onyebuchi, Deputy Speaker, House of Assembly, Hon. Chime Oji, Council of Traditional Rulers in the State at a town hall meeting with the public as part of her advocacy and sensitization visit to the state yesterday.
The presidential aide was also in Enugu to commission a new block at Nwani Cottage Hospital, constructed to complement the existing overstressed facilities.
Gbeneol noted that while the efforts of the Governor in delivering development to the people remains commendable, there are however, increasing needs for the states to step up and accelerate effort. “We have less than 1, 000 days to draw the curtain on the MDGs and we can’t afford to fail. More than ever before, all hands must be on deck to ensure that our people get the best and this is the position of the president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,” said Dr.Gbeneol.
According to her, Nigeria cannot meet the MDGs if states and other stakeholders are not playing their parts as part of concerted efforts and in synergy with the OSSAP-MDGs.
“My office is willing and ready to release all approved amount in the annual projects cycles under the State and Local Government Tracks in line with the Conditional Grants Scheme implementation Manual but the benefiting states and LGA must complement the efforts of the Federal Government by delivering development to the people as well as showing proof of performance with previous releases.”
Speaking further, the SSAP-MDGs noted that as a result of the long-standing relationship between OSSAP-MDGs and Enugu State, a number of projects have been executed over the years.
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“In 2011, Enugu State received the sum of 735, 829, 090 with the State contributing half of the amount as counterpart fund. In addition, three LGAs (Isi-Uzo, Igbo-Etiti and Aninri) received N100, 000, 000 each which His Excellency graciously counterpart funded with N100, 000, 000 each. These funds are being used to execute pro-poor interventions in the health, education and water and sanitation sectors in various communities in the state. In 2012, four new Local Governments (Nkanu East, Ezeagu, Uzo-Uwani and Oji river) also received N100, 000, 000.00 each which are expected to be counterpart funded by an equal amount. Gbeneol Stated.
“In addition, the State is collaborating with OSSAP-MDGs to reach out to poor households through our Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme. The sum of N187m transferred from OSSAP-MDGs has been counterpart funded by Your Excellency for this purpose. The MDGs Office is also partnering with the State to counterpart fund projects in the 2012 State Track of the CGS which has been estimated to cost a total of N1, 233, 420, 476. Gbeneol said.
In his remark, Onyebuchi thanked the SSAP-MDGs for her effective coordination of the MDGs framework in the country as well as the passion and commitment she has exhibited in impacting the lives of the poor.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon Chime Oji, who acknowledged the positive changes in the state, added that the 17 LGAs have all benefited from the MDGs projects in state. Similarly, the Acting Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Igwe Simeon Osisi Itodo described MDGs projects in the state as President Jonathan’s fresh air.
“We have seen the projects and they are impacting lives in Enugu. Take a message to President Jonathan that we have received the fresh air and we are breathing it, Itodo stated.”
