The Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has applauded the USAID State2State contributions towards ensuring transparency and accountability in government policies and programmes in the state.
Governor Aliyu made the commendation at a one-day town hall meeting ahead of the 2024 budget presentation in Sokoto state.
According to him, the State2State Project contributed in the areas of education, healthcare, water sanitation and hygiene among others.
He appreciated the organisation and assured that his administration would continue to partner State2State project for the sustainable development of the state.
Governor Aliyu added that his administration remains determined to inject more funds to ensure the effective implementation of state action plans for the overall development of the state.
He reassured that the state government would continue to remain determined to sustain the current practice of transparency, accountability and sustainability for effective action in a business environment.
In his remarks, the non-state Actor and Co-chair of the programme, Mr Auwal Ahmed, said open government partnership (OGP) is a global initiative that ensures that citizens are engaged in budget processes in the state.
He appreciated Governor Aliyu for providing an avenue for the interaction to take place ahead of the 2024 budget presentation before the state assembly.
He further thanked the governor for placing Sokoto state on the global list of states that are ensuring good governance and citizen engagement in Nigeria and at the global level.
Mr Auwal said USAID State2State has spent a tune of 6 million dollars on the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene, education and good governance in the first two years,” and another 6 million dollars will be spent on the remaining two years of the project”.
He further commended Governor Aliyu for developing a 9-point agenda that is in line with a state action plan that would pave the way for the effective implementation of open government partnership (OGP).
He noted that through USAID State2State and open government partnership has committed a lot in the areas of education, and healthcare services, and “we are doing a lot in early grade reading.
” It’s our interest that boys and girls can read at the primary level as a first stage of development.”
He added that the OGP is piloting five local governments including Tambuwal, Wamakko, Sokoto South, Sokoto North and Gwadabawa for the development of community charters.
The Co-Chair urged Governor Aliyu to support ministries of finance, Budget and economic planning and local government affairs in the implementation of the community charters to speed development.
Dominica Nwabufo
