Ekiti Govt/World Bank organise Workshop to Strengthen Fiscal Performance and Sustainability

The Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Hon. Biodun Oyebanji has reaffirmed the commitment of the Fayemi-led administration to the economic development of the state.

Hon. Oyebanji gave the assurance while addressing participants of a 2- day workshop on the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAs) program held in the Conference Hall of the Old Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti.

The Secretary to the State Government said that the programme was prepared by the World Bank to support states in order to strengthen their fiscal performance and sustainability.

He added that the programme is expected to support states of the Federation to complement subset of the 22-point Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP) and Open Government Partnership Agenda.

Hon. Oyebanji said with the hope that the workshop will provide the participants with the technical information and ideas which are required for better performance of the state in 2019 Assessment under the existing SFTAs.

The SSG charged the participants to be attentive to the consultants and thereafter declared the workshop open.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Hon Ayoola Owolabi, commend the State Government for a prompt arrangement of the workshop, he also welcomed all the participants to the workshop on SFTAs programme.

Hon. Owolabi said that the objectives of the workshop included the provision of a mock platform for relevant MDA’s to perform elaborate interrogation in order to identify challenges that are connected to achieving their DLIs.

In her goodwill message, the State Head of Service, Mrs. Peju Babafemi expressed much optimism that the workshop will equip participants with the required knowledge in preparation for the next Annual Performance Assessment (AP) of the programme.

Mrs. Babafemi explained that the State Government in collaboration with Aseweje and Co. has arranged this training to enhance the skills and technical knowhow of the officials of the state.

The Executive Chairman of Ekiti State Board of Internal Revenue, Hon. Muyiwa Ogunmilade said that the workshop is to leverage on the experiences of the consultant who has been part of the World Bank processes which will give the state an opportunity of being one of the states to access the grant early.

Hon. Ogunmilade said the present Administration is doing everything possible to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state adding that the Motorcycle Riders’ Permit programme going on in the Board of Internal Revenue is for security and proper identification of the owner.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mr. James Folorunsho in his own remark commended the State Government for the workshop adding that the training is one of the programmes used to access grants from World Bank which will boost the Economic of the state during and after the Coronavirus pandemic period.

Mr. Folorunsho noted that the workshop will also provide a platform for accessing the participants and to discover gaps that required urgent attention in the preparation for the Independent Verification Agents (IVA).

Last modified: June 23, 2020