The USAID Nigeria State Accountability, Transparency, and Effectiveness State2State Activity in its usual characteristics and to review previous interventions, assess progress results towards the achievements of its objectives, and update key areas of interest, have held a three-day work plan consultative meeting and workshop for the fifth year of its activities in Ebonyi State.
The workshop held at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu was aimed at reviewing the 2024 work plan implementation, achievements, lessons learned, and challenges, to provide necessary guidance to stakeholders on state-level priority interventions for the coming 5th year, review data and information gathered in the previous year, Identify current reform and sustainability gaps and challenges. It was also to gather stakeholders' critical inputs for the State2State 2025 work plan and to identify prioritized interventions for the year 5-year work plan.
In his remarks, the State Team Lead of State2State Activity, Dr Sam Onyia, said the meeting was to review their activities so far even as they step into the 5th year of their activities in Ebonyi State by October 2024.
He added that it was necessary to review the activities in the 4th year as a step towards planning for the 5th year.
Dr Onyia urged the present administration in Ebonyi State under Governor Nwifuru to adopt the State Development Plan (SDP) document drafted by key stakeholders of the state.
He maintained that the main significance of the workshop was to identify the importance of consolidation, sustainability, and institutionalization of the reforms that have been supported by the State2State Activity.
Declaring the workshop open, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Grants and Donor Agencies, Chief Solomon Azi, noted that as the 5th year will conclude the State2State Activity in Ebonyi State, efforts should be geared toward prioritizing the promotion of economic growth and prosperity by ensuring the sustainability of the programs and policies of the State2State Activity in Ebonyi, which he said have helped in reshaping the future of Ebonyi people and ensuring ownership and sustainability of its programs.
On his part, the Auditor General of Ebonyi State, Dr. Samuel Udu, implored all the participants to place much emphasis on the work plan for the 5th year to use it to close the gaps already identified and commended the State2State for its support in developing budget and procurement manuals in the State.
The Secretary of Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Livinus Ezeuwa, and Permanent Secretary, of the State Ministry of Budget and Planning, Mrs. Mfon Williamson, commended the State2State for aiding Ebonyi State to prepare a formidable budget that has helped to attend to the needs of the citizens of the State over the years.
Delivering an update on the implementation of the State Transformation Committee (STC), the highest organ for promoting reforms at State2State, the State2State Communication Specialist, Nneka Acholonu Egbuna, said the STC has supported critical transformation as well as engagements with the present administration, sensitization of the citizens, reactivation of the open government partnership (OGP) and increased taxpayers database.
In her presentation on Midline Assessments in Ebonyi State, the State2State Local Government Manager, Mrs. Victoria Eze, recommended bi-annual local government dialogue, supported the operationalization of the local government autonomy through capacity building on budget preparation and the introduction of service delivery tracking advocacy.
Others who presented papers at the workshop include the State Public Finance Management Specialist, Mr. Chibueze Nwonye, and the Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist, Ejiro Okotie.
The three-day workshop witnessed plenary sessions and technical sessions where participants were divided into groups, and observations and suggestions for the 5th year work plan were made.
Egede Sylvester is the Public Relations Officer, at Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
