Kogi gets $18.9m World Bank credit

The Project Coordinator of Kogi State Public Sector Governance Reform and Development Project (PSGRP), Mr Ebnezass Bayode yesterday said the World Bank had approved $18.9 million credit to support the Kogi State government to reform its public finance management and human resource systems.

Bayode disclosed this during a sensitization programme organised for journalists in the state.

He said the Public Sector Governance Reform Development project which is an initiative of the World Bank has the objective of improving accountability, transparency and quality in the management of state’s resources for the benefit of the citizenry.

Bayode said the project which commenced in Kogi in 2012, has among others assisted in training and retraining of over 40 top middle level government officials, provided office equipment, 27 hilux vehicles, 50 motorcycles and computer sets for various ministries, departments and agencies to enhance performance and service delivery.

He said the project has equally assisted the state government in establishing Public Procurement Bureau and Fiscal Responsibility Act to ensure things are done rightly in the state.

Bayode said effort is on to establish a State Integrated Finance Management Information System (SIFMIS) which he said would enhance full automation, computerization and harmonisation of the payroll system to address the malaise of ghost workers’.

He emphasized the need for government to enact relevant legislations that would ensure enforcement of sanctions against misuse and misapplication of public funds.