Taraba, World Bank To Strengthen Governance, Health, Education

Taraba State government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources in the execution of World Bank projects in the state.
This is just as the government said it would deepen collaboration with the World Bank to improve governance, healthcare delivery and education across the state.

The commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Sarah Enoch Adi, stated this in Jalingo during an advocacy, sensitisation and stakeholders’ engagement on the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE), governance, primary healthcare and education programmes, supported by the World Bank.

Adi said the engagement was aimed at strengthening stakeholders’ understanding of human capital development as the foundation for sustainable development, equity and prosperity, while promoting transparent, inclusive and responsive governance.

She maintained that the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas remained committed to delivering quality services to the people and ensuring that funds provided by development partners were properly utilised for their intended purposes.

“Today’s engagement is designed in keeping with the promise made to the people of Taraba State of the government’s commitment to delivering quality services across key sectors,” she said.

“We are here to strengthen our understanding of human capital as the foundation of posterity and equity, advocate for governance systems that are transparent, inclusive and responsive, and sensitise stakeholders on their roles in ensuring effective delivery of social transfers, livelihood support and other interventions,” she said.

The state Focal Person for HOPE, Dr Manasseh Haruna, explained that the programme was designed to improve the availability and effective utilisation of resources while strengthening transparency and accountability in service delivery.

He also highlighted the implementation strategies and achievements recorded under the programme in the state.

The permanent secretary, Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Danjuma Saigudu, said the ministry was responsible for coordinating World Bank and other donor-funded projects in the state.

According to him, the ministry also oversees budget preparation, resource allocation and government counterpart contributions to projects being implemented in partnership with development agencies.

“As a ministry, it is our responsibility to coordinate all World Bank and donor agencies’ projects. Aside from that, the ministry is responsible for budget, resource allocation and government contributions to all World Bank and donor agencies’ activities in the state,” Mr. Saigudu said.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr Augustina Godwin Yahya, said the state had recorded progress in teacher training and retraining, recruitment of personnel and distribution of learning materials to schools.

Dr. Godwin said, the state government had also introduced free education and assumed responsibility for the payment of WAEC and NECO registration fees as part of efforts to expand access to quality education.

According to the Commissioner, the World Bank-supported intervention was expected to facilitate the rehabilitation of dilapidated schools, improvement of facilities, provision of teaching and learning materials and construction of additional classrooms between 2025 and 2029.

On healthcare, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Bordiya Buma, disclosed that more than 130 primary healthcare centres had been upgraded to improve facilities and service delivery across the state.

Dr. Buma said, 150 personnel had already been recruited into the primary healthcare system, while Governor Kefas had approved the recruitment of an additional 480 personnel to meet the growing demand for healthcare services.

The commissioner added that the interventions were part of broader efforts by the state government to strengthen the primary healthcare system and improve access to quality healthcare, particularly at the grassroots.

Representing community stakeholders, the Galadima Muri, Alhaji Lamido Abba Tukura, commended the initiative and called for sustained community participation to ensure the success and sustainability of the programmes.

The advocacy and sensitisation engagement, held at the Grand Shield Hotel, Jalingo, brought together policymakers, development partners, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

The participants deliberated on ways to strengthen governance, primary healthcare and education while ensuring that development interventions translate into improved living conditions and equitable opportunities for residents of the state.