The United States Agency for International Development Nigeria-State Accountability, Transparency, and Effectiveness Activity recently held the Gombe State year four quarter four State Transformation Committee meeting.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the meeting took place at Emerald Royale Hill Hotel, Government Reserved Area Gombe State from Tuesday, 22nd to Wednesday, 23rd, October 2024.
Participants of the STC meeting include members of Civil Society Organisations, officials from Gombe State Ministries Departments and Agencies.
State2State works with government agencies, the private sector, communities, and civil society organisations to achieve the following results including increased efficiency and strengthen governance systems (with a focus on public financial management and procurement, as well as monitoring and evaluation related to the delivery of services in the key sectors of basic education, primary health care, and WASH) and also increase the government’s ability to respond to citizen needs and priorities.
The purpose of the State2State Activity is to assist the government in strengthening accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in increasing service delivery and access to basic education, primary health care, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.
In his opening remarks, State Team Lead Muhammad Abubakar said, the focus of the workshop is to review the reform sustainability plan developed by the STC.
The STL noted that the meeting would review the implementation of the STC action plan developed and reorient the newly appointed members on their roles and responsibilities as members of the STC.
Abubakar added that the meeting assess the efforts of the STC in the last three months in pushing for PFM/governance reforms initiated by State2State, which will set the agenda for the quarter’s STC meeting.
Oluwatosin Oke, National PFM Specialist, gave an update on Gombe reforms and sustainability status, as well as a glimpse into the State2State 2025 workplan and update.
Additionally, Oke led participants through consolidation and validation of reform sustainability strategies.
On her part, Hajiya Zariyatu Abubakar, State2State Local Governance Manager, presented on ‘LG interventions, identified reform gaps, and the role of the STC in bridging the gaps’. She noted, “With the current preparations for the full autonomy of local governments, there is a need to look inward towards ensuring that when it commences, LGAs would have been set.”
Vice Chairperson of STC, Anita Dogo, commended USAID State2State for the meeting, urging members to boldly make inputs. She expressed optimism that the committee, following its composition, would effectively contribute to the development and progress of Gombe State.
“Nobody will call you for saying anything about the government; it’s our government. If it’s good or bad, it’s for the good of the people and the state,” Dogo said.
The workshop also assessed the STC’s effort in pushing for PFM/governance reforms initiated and implemented by the Gombe State Government, pushed by the STC and State2State.
The meeting also reviewed State2State’s interventions, implementation approach, and achievements in the state to prepare the STC for more active participation and support for State2State interventions in the sustenance of these reform achievements in the state.
