If state governments reach the performance goals established by World Bank independent accessors, they should be able to access a $20 million COVID-19 support fund from the Federal Government.
The World Bank is providing $750 million in financial support to the Federal for on-lending to the states.
According to the Federal Government, the Federal Capital Territory is also anticipated to receive $15 million from the fund.
Clement Agba, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Budget and National Planning provided the information to journalists on Monday in Abuja.
Agba emphasized that the fund would be performance-based and stated, “N950 million has been distributed thus far to each state. The states are required to use this money in accordance with the agreements they have made, as laid forth in the templates on the topic of livelihood (conditional cash transfers) or the category of Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises.
He stated that impartial accessors from outside the states would go to each one to see what they had submitted and assess their ability to use and manage the monies.
“The states can get a maximum of $20 million tied to their performance. The independent accessors would give the nod before states can make such access,” he said.
Commenting on the reports on Nigeria’s multidimensionally poor report released recently by the National Bureau of Statistics, the Minister said proper spread and mapping of developmental projects would lessen rising poverty.
He noted that the Budget and National Planning ministry was willing to work with states on a proper spread of projects, to lessen rising incidences of rural poverty.
“The multi-dimensional poverty report which revealed 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor was produced in partnership with the states and federal government.
“We are still lagging behind on rural poverty. It will take the media to get the conversation going till we get it right by keeping these issues at the front burner at both state and local government levels,” he added.
