SEEFOR: World Bank Rates Rivers Best

A cross section of supporters welcoming APC party chieftains at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa Rivers State, yesterday

Rivers State has emerged the best implementing state in the world Bank-assisted State Employment And Expenditure For Result (SEEFOR) project.
The rating has also attracted to the state, the highest grant of $81.63 million.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic planning, Mr. Levi Gogo Charles, who disclosed this during a five-day training programme of focal officers, said that the state was also determined to ensure the success of the programme.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Sir Promise Njiowhor, said that the success of the programme will be determined by the ability of the focal persons to implement aspects allotted to them diligently.
The Commissioner, who also warned them against acts capable of derailing the pregramme, stated that every money spent must be properly accounted for, stressing that as a World Bank programme, proper documentation must be made in relation to every expenditure.
He said that, the state government was desirous of ensuring the success of the programme as it would go a long way to create sustainable employment opportunities for youth as well as help the state in the areas of sanitation and road maintenance.
Also speaking, the Accountant General of the State, Sir Ngozi Abu, said that the programme was essential as it would help check crime rate in the state.
Abu also urged the focal officers to ensure diligent execution of their aspects of the programme so as to create impact on those it was meant for.
He also called for constant interaction among the implementing agencies to ensure that no aspect of the programme was neglected.
The State Employment And Expenditure for result (SEEFOR) project is a World Bank-assisted programme to create employment opportunities for youth in four states of the Niger Delta, including Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo and Delta.