World Bank backs Bayelsa’s education, health LG reforms with $4m

…Awards Akwa Ibom $6.2m for excellence in governance, transparency

The World Bank has given Bayelsa State $4.0 million under its HOPE Governance Programme for reform initiatives in the areas of education, health and local government in the State.

A World Bank statement had disclosed that Bayelsa and four other States would receive a combined sum of $15 million in performance-based incentives under the HOPE Governance Programme after emerging as the best-performing States in implementing key education and healthcare reforms.

Speaking on Wednesday during the 190th State Executive Council meeting in Yenagoa, Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, assured that the World Bank fund would be judiciously utilised to strengthen the sectors.

Governor Diri said the reward was the result of visible investments of the administration in both sectors that were yielding positive results.

He stated that the administration had also embarked on reforms that have impacted positively on local government administration.

The governor stressed that local councils which struggled to pay salaries were now not only meeting up their salary obligations, but were also undertaking infrastructure projects.

His words: “There is so much we are doing even in terms of local government reforms. At some point, local governments could not pay salaries. But today they are not only paying salaries but also doing infrastructure projects.

“Our Investments in health and education are visible, and I would like to assure Bayelsans that the funds, when received, will be used to strengthen the sectors.

“Our duty is to serve you and make sure we improve what we met on the ground. Together let us work to build a stronger Bayelsa that we will be proud to hand over to our children.”

Earlier, while making a presentation, Timipre Seipulo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Treasury and Accounts, said the HOPE Governance Programme was aimed at improving efficiency in key sectors such as education and health.

He stated that the bank’s incentives were based on the findings and recommendations of an Interim Independent Verification Agent, which assessed states’ performance to qualify for the programme’s Disbursement-Linked Indicators.

Giving a breakdown, Seipulou said reforms in the health and education sectors earned the State $1.5 million each.

He also stated that Bayelsa earned $500,000 for its local government reforms while preparation of citizens budget earned the State another $500,000, amounting to $4.0 million.

Similarly, the Akwa Ibom State Government received a major international boost as the World Bank-assisted State Action on Business Enabling Reform (SABER) Programme awarded it 6,206,745.42 US dollars in recognition of its outstanding performance in transparency, budgetary management and good governance, under the 2024 assessment.

Umo Eno, the State Governor, who announced the award during the July edition of the Monthly Covenant Service, held on Wednesday at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, described the recognition as a testament to his administration’s unwavering commitment to accountability, prudent management of public resources and institutional reforms.

The governor noted that the latest achievement comes shortly after Akwa Ibom emerged as one of Nigeria’s highest-performing states in governance in the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) Governance Performance Index (CGP), saying the twin recognitions affirm that the state is on a steady path of sustainable development.

According to him, the accolades further validate his administration’s development strategy, which is anchored on transparency, fiscal discipline and people-oriented governance.

Governor Eno also highlighted key achievements across critical sectors of the state’s economy.

He announced the resumption of Ibom Air’s international flight operations between Uyo and Accra, Ghana, with flights currently operating every Thursday and Sunday, expressing confidence that more international destinations would be added as passenger traffic increases.

In the transportation sector, the governor disclosed that the state government has procured 50 brand-new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to improve public transportation.

He revealed that the first batch of 20 buses had already arrived, while the remaining 30 are expected soon, assuring residents that the buses are newly manufactured and that drivers would undergo adequate training before they are deployed for public service.

On youth empowerment, Governor Eno reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to establish Youth Development Centres in all 31 Local Government Areas of the State. He explained that the centres would bring skills acquisition and empowerment programmes closer to young people, complementing ongoing national efforts to enhance youth productivity.

The governor also urged residents and visitors to explore Akwa Ibom’s expanding tourism destinations, including the ARISE Park and ARISE Resort, describing the period as the state’s “harvest season.”

“We are in our harvest season. You need to visit ARISE Park and the ARISE Resort. Akwa Ibom is doing well, and we will continue to grow our tourism sector,” he stated.

Governor Eno further cautioned journalists, social media users and members of the public against the spread of misinformation, urging them to verify facts before publishing or sharing information.

He warned that the dissemination of falsehood is detrimental to society and stressed that offenders risk facing the full weight of the law.