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ONDO State Government on Friday inaugurated a steering committee on Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES).
The state Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who inaugurated the committee in Akure, noted that it was a prerequisite for enlistment into CARES Programme for all the 36 states of the federation.
Akeredolu, represented by his Deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said the programme was an emergency one designed by World Bank to support budgeted programmes of expenditures and interventions at the state level.
The governor noted that the programme targeted existing and emerging vulnerable and poor households.
Others targeted according to him are agricultural value chains and micro and small businesses affected by the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a responsive government, we constituted a Committee on COVID-19 and carefully initiated and implemented some measures to curtail the spread of the pandemic.
“The state immediately embarked on a comprehensive review of the year 2020 Budget to give priority to the health sector by capturing initiatives that will address effects of the pandemic and ensure sufficient allocation of funds to them in the budget.
“We also set up COVID-19 isolation centres and compensated our frontline health workers with COVID-19 allowance,” he said.
Akeredolu said that in spite all the initiatives taken by the state government, there was still the need for partnership with relevant stakeholders to consolidate the progress made.
“I understand that CARES is a programme for result with a fast disbursing credit facility of $20 million to each of the participating states, expected to be drawn down in two years.
“I am equally informed of the possibility of the states drawing above this amount provided they are able to achieve over and above set targets and results.
“I will, therefore, like to charge this committee to work assiduously, not only to ensure that the state successfully draws down the amount allocated to it, but that it exceeds the set targets,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Mrs Olubunmi Ademosun, the Special Adviser to Akeredolu on Inter-Governmental Relations, thanked the governor for the opportunity given the committee members to serve.
She promised that the committee would work diligently. (NAN)
– June 11, 2021 @ 13:54 GMT |
Tags: Ondo inaugurates steering committee on NG-CARES
