The United States Agency for International Development State Accountability, Transparency, and Effectiveness, State2State Activity has
organised its fifth year consultative work plan workshop.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the participants comprise Ministries Departments and Agencies, Civil Society Organisations and Local Government.
The three-day training held between July 16-18 2024 at Flourish Hotel, Gombe.
Our correspondent reports that S2S supports states to plan and budget, raise revenues, increase civil society participation, and oversee service delivery in Health, Education, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene sectors by building relevant capacities.
It’s implemented by Development Alternatives Incorporated
The Adamawa State Team Lead Ms Suzzane Myada, while making her presentation said State2State has been complementing the efforts of the state and target LGAs since 202, adding that anything that S2S does is for the people of Adamawa.
Myada disclosed that they invest in people, adding that the workshop was organised for the implementation of S2S Adamawa Fiscal budget year 2024 including key results, challenges and possible solutions.
Dr Mary Paninga, Executive Chairman of Adamawa State Planning Commission in an interview with PERISCOPE NIGERIA said that S2S in Adamawa has been a great help in governance, financial management, internal generated revenue, procurement issues and Gender Social Inclusiveness.
She said, “Its been a really good one in budgeting and the rest of them, they have really contributed a lot in Adamawa State and they are still doing same. As this meeting goes on reviewing the implementation of S2S programme and the intervention so far and also the general programme we have in data and information gathering.
“It takes us to another phase and another height because it helps us to put in shape those things that are yet to get balance especially on the performance component of the state budget and the rest of them because the training is very key as we review the previous performances and the work plan.”
While calling for more capacity building initiatives, she added “We discovered that there are somethings we need to put in place to adjust that can achieve more result especially in the performance level of the state. They (S2S ) has been doing so much but more needs to be done in the area of capacity building and technical assistance generally like now we are hoping and believing we can work on the State Development Plan which right now is in the pipeline, a strategy one that’s for 10 year or there about.
Also capacity building for budgeting and the Medium Term Expenditure preparation and rest of them generally technical assistance that they’ve been offering we need more of that because that is what is taking us higher.”
She commended the S2S for a job well done, “because prior to their intervention in Adamawa State was in the down ladder of the performance of assessment of budget but in 2022 and 2023 we came 3rd in the whole of the Nation in budget performance and transparency basically and for one to climb such ladder it means something has happened and S2S is really responsible for that and we are so grateful for that. In the budgeting aspect of health they really helped so much and that has taken us to a limelight and also improved our performance from what we have reviewed today you can see that now we use to be below 30, 40 but now we have 65, 70 and above is still a mile stone and is a good one for that matter even though we are still expecting to reach 80,85 to 90,” she added.
Paninga further noted that Adamawa State Government is a willing government stressing that most of the time the challenges faced in implementing programmes is political will “but Adamawa State to some extent has reached and gotten the pass mark because the governor is willing to ensure that things work and that is why he’s getting award here. The best infrastructure governor of the country twice and it was because he has listening ears, open door policy for development partners and he’s willing to partner and come in and bring a kind of enabling environment for those that work in Adamawa State and they are the things that move Adamawa forward. The Governor and the Government of Adamawa State are open handed and making sure that contributions from donors NGO partners are received with gratitude and acted upon.The gender component too, S2S has done a lot and the fruits can be seen now all elected vice Chairmen in all LGAs are all women so GESI is also part of the milestone we’ve achieved and courtesy S2S with the component they brought in. So i want to ask Adamawa people to really appreciate S2S and make sure that sustainability is there and we are here to ensure that there’s sustainability by the time S2S pulls out,” she said.
