The World Bank says, over $24million has so far been spent to implement the State Employment and Expenditure Results (SEEFOR) budget of 2017 in Rivers State.
The World Bank Tax Team Leader, Mr. Paminder P.S. Brar disclosed this, last Monday, in an interview with journalists in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the $24million was part of $79million budgeted for Rivers State in three years.
Brar said the $79million was expected to run for a period of three years in Rivers State, adding that with the sum expended thus far, the state was the biggest beneficiary among the SEEFOR participating states in Niger Delta region.
“We are here as part of the SEEFOR’s implementation support mission.
“The SEEFOR’s projects across the four participating states in three years are estimated at $270million, which Rivers State is the biggest beneficiary.
“The amount of money allocated to Rivers State is $79million and the money spent last year for the state was $24million”, Brar disclosed.
The World Bank Tax Team leader also disclosed that the bank supported SEEFOR projects in Port Harcourt Polytechnic with N500million for renovation of buildings and provision of equipment to run technical and vocational training in the state.
He said the full session of the technical and vocational training was billed to commence in September, 2018, adding that another team from World Bank would be expected in October and November to inspect the level of development of the project in the state.
The World Bank leader expressed satisfaction with the level of achievements by SEEFOR in the state, and promised to increase the number of starter-parks for the trainees of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic in Bori.
Speaking, the Rivers State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Isaac Kamalu commended the effort of SEEFOR in the state, saying that some schools in the state have been revived to encourage skills acquisition through the World Bank programme.
He expressed optimism that the gesture would boost self-employment in the state in the nearest future.
The commissioner reiterated the state government’s support as partner in the programme to achieve set goals in the development of the state.
Kamalu thanked the World Bank representative for the acceptance of the state’s request to increase the number of starter-parks in accordance with the number of the trainees in the state.
On his part, the state Coordinator of SEEFOR, Mr. Kelsius Amos said the organization has achieved over 70 per cent of its target in some development areas across the four participating states in Niger Delta.
He expressed optimism that the organization would meet its target for the state by 2019 when the programme would end in the state.
Amos called on the youth to make good use of the opportunity provided them to better their future.
He said the programme that was about to start in Port Harcourt Polytechnic would be of good benefit to the youth and elders of the state, irrespective of the education level.
The SEEFOR coordinator also commended the state government for its support to achieve people-oriented projects in the state.
It would be recalled that the World Bank Tax Team was in the state last Saturday as part SEEFOR implementation support mission to ascertain the level of projects in line with the budget for the state.

Enoch Epelle