NAN-HE-23
SEEFOR
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, Feb. 14, 2018 (NAN) The World Bank has approved an additional two years extension, up to September 2019, to complete the implementation of the State Employment and Expenditure For Results (SEEFOR) Project.
The SEEFOR Project which is being implemented in four states of Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers commenced in 2013 and had a midterm review in 2016.
The National Project Coordinator of SEEFOR, Mr Tunde Lawal, made this known in a statement by Director Press, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs Victoria Agba-Attah on Wednesdy in Abuja.
Lawal, also a Director, Macroeconomic Analysis Department in the ministry, said this at a Stakeholders’ Validation Workshop of Studies conducted under SEEFOR.
“SEEFOR Project was designed to run for an initial period of five years, which was expected to elapse in 2017.
“However, due to time loss encountered during the inception phase and the delay in accessing the European Union additional grant support the duration has been extended.
“ The World Bank has approved an additional two-year extension to make up for the time loss,’’ he said.
The director said the aim of the project was to enhance opportunities for employment and access to socio-economic services; also to improve the public expenditure management systems in the participating states.
He said draft reports of the studies had undergone some in-house reviews at the level of the ministry but needed all stakeholders to critically look at it to add their input.
Also, Mr Olajide Odewale, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, said SEEFOR Project had the potential and opportunities for supporting the delivery of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
Odewale said the objective of the workshop was to harvest and share key findings, comments and suggestions from the three thematic areas.
He said the areas included impact assessment study of SEEFOR Projects and study of the federal capital projects in Nigeria.
In addition, he said, other area was on studying of public investment in the Niger Delta and the development of public investment strategy for the region.
The Permanent Secretary, however, acknowledged that the areas of study were consistent with the aspirations of the ERGP which focused on the three strategic objectives.
He said ERGP focused on the three strategic objectives of restoring growth, investing in our people, and building a competitive economy. (NAN)
CIA/MO/YAZ
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Edited by Omolade