The Cross River State Government with support from European Union (EU), managed by World Bank, has awarded a contract worth N1.3billion to Counterhouse Limited for the upgrade and re-implementation of the State Integrated Financial Management Information System (SIFMIS) of State and Local Government Reform Project (SLOGOR).
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the weekend in Calabar by the Ministry of International Donor Corporation and the Consultant.
The Commissioner for International Donor Corporation, Mr. Francis Etta said the project was aimed at addressing the financial operations of the state with ease.
He added that the project was also targeted at adopting a long term strategy where Information and Communication Technology would be integrated into its operations and Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
According to him, “the project is what we call SIFMIS and if that comes operationalised, it means the financial operations of Cross River State would be digitalised, at a press of a button, the budget is out, the accounting systems are out and the audited account of the state will just be out unlike the way we have been going manually that takes a whole lot of time to produce an account, that would become a thing of the past and that is the core essence .
“With the governor’s concept, being a digital governor, we want to digitalise the operations in Cross River State for him.”
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Counterhouse Limited, Mr. Rotimi Olugbohungbe assured the state of delivering the project in two weeks immediately the necessary things are put in place.
While commending the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, for choosing to digitalise, he said: “we always deliver ahead of schedule and that is what we are going to do for Cross River State and when the necessary thing is done, I think we can deliver in the next two weeks.”
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
