SLOGOR ISM: Task Team emphasises on Project implementation

By Kingsley Agim

As the State and Local Governance Reform Project (SLOGOR) closure date draws closer, the World Bank Task Team has emphasized the need ffor participating States to fully execute pending projects to avoid forfeiture of funds meant for such projects.

The Task Team Leader (TTL), Mr. Ikechukwu Nweje made this disclosure during the SLOGOR Implementation Support Mission, held recently in the Conference Hall of Chelsea Hotel in Abuja.

Listening to presentation on project implementation status by various participating States, Mr. Nweje pointed out that prompt execution of projects aid the possibility of several years of post implementation support from the World Bank.

The TTL, who maintained that each State’s Steering Committee will remain the pressure group that would continue to push projects because of its common interest, also sued for formation of sub-committee of executives to ensure sustainability of all projects, as well as setting new performance standards which would serve as benchmark for future use.

After the presentation by the Project Coordinator of Cross River SLOGOR, Mr. Joseph Imbufe, the Team advised that further collaboration was necessary for proper strategy formation, adding that it is the responsibility of the Activity Executing Agencies (AEA) to come up with exit strategies on asset sustenance and to elicit future donor support.

The 15-man Cross River State contingent led by the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation (coordinating Ministry), Dr. Inyang Asibong, was drawn from the State Project Coordinating Unit (SPCU), Activity Executing Agencies (AEA) and State Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (SIFMIS) personnel, where they made commendable inputs to the expository 3-day event.

The Implementation Support Mission covered the following notable subjects: State’s presentation on project implementation status, State’s presentation of exit strategy, review of exit strategy, overview of communication strategy/visibility policy for the project, questions and answers on World Bank Fiduciary arrangement in project closing, nexus between SLOGOR and States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme implementation, as well as wrap up with National Project Coordinating Unit (NPCU) and next steps on project closure.
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