‘RSG Committed To Accountability’

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Gogo Levi Charles, has stated that the Rivers State government is interested in State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) Project because one of its objectives promotes accountability in public spending.
Hon. Charles stated this while receiving a delegation of the World Bank led by the Community Development Driven (COD) Consultant of SEEFOR Project, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa in his office.
The Commissioner said the Project would be well implemented in the State to attract more projects and assured the team that he would do everything within his power to facilitate the signing of the MoUs between the implementing MDAs and the State Project Coordinating Unit (SPCU) which is currently in the Ministry of Justice.
In an address, the leader of the delegation had appealed to the Commissioner to help facilitate the signing of the MoUs which “… spells out in concrete terms the role of each implementing MDA” and the extent of involvement of the SPCU in the implementation of the Project.
Okumadewa emphasised the need for the various components to be allowed to do their job and learn from their mistakes.
In a related development, the team also held a meeting with the implementing Ministry of COD, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs (MCCA).
In a brief remark, the Commissioner for Culture and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Charles Okaye who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Sir C. N. Walker thanked the World Bank for choosing his Ministry as the Implementing Ministry for CDD social component and assured that the ministry has the capacity for implementing the project.
Hon. Okaye expressed optimism that Rivers people would benefit immensely from the project under his Ministry.
The Coordinator of the project in the State, Mr. Kelcious Amos informed the delegation that the CDD social component was ready to commence implementation but they were still awaiting the signing of the MoU which has been sent to Ministry of Justice.
Amos also said in preparation for take-off, the CDD team would be going to Bayelsa within the week for training that would equip them on how to implement the project.
The CDD Component of SEEFOR Project is the component that deals directly with Community Driven Initiative. It is geared towards supporting members of the communities to carry out any chosen Project of their choice.
The component is divided into two: CDD Social which will be implemented by Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs while CDD Economic will be implemented by FADAMA III.