Aregbesola Lauds Impact Of SLOGOR Project On Public Finance

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola has lauded the impact of the State and Local Governance Reform (SLOGOR) Project in engineering reforms especially the Public Financial Management in the State.

Aregbesola who was represented by the State Chief of Staff, Alhaji Adeboyega Oyetola made this known today in Osogbo while at the policy dialogue with the World Bank team and Staff of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning on SLOGOR Mid – Term Review.

Adebgboyega said that: “The State and Local Governance Reform Project has in no small measure contributed to reforming Public Financial Management in the State. It is important to note that this much is achieved with SLOGOR intervention”.

He listed some achievements recorded by the State Government on PFM, supported by the SLOGOR Project as Annual Financial statement now prepared using the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), State Audited Accounts submitted to the Legislature within 6 months from the end of the financial year and audit reform 100 percent covers Government Revenue and Expenditure.

The State also conducts Annual Audit forum which has passed Public Procurement Law and develop State Long Term Plan (2018-2028) etc.

According to him, state of Osun is one of the States in Nigeria that has been prioritized and open to reforms, particularly those that reduce poverty in all its manifestations, in which the World Bank is the principal whereby contributing immensely to the rating of the State as one of the States in Nigeria with the lowest poverty index according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

In the same vein, the team task leader of the Project, Mr. Ikechukwu Nweje disclosed that the objective of the mid- term review was basically to take stock of what is working well with the project and areas that requires improvement in the State and also look at the implementation support targeted at the activities executing agencies to help them improve on their jobs.

Nweje requested that the States to send their record of expenses to the World Bank on time as well as encourage them to submit their Work Plan and Procurement Plan on time insisting that it is better to do so rather than waiting till the last minute.

The SLOGOR NPCU Project Coordinator, Mr. Samuel Elohor in his remarks expressed his happiness that the state of Osun is a reformed State focusing on PFM and Devolution of Power.

Elohor encouraged the State to take the Project very seriously and also work together as a team in a bid to utilise the opportunity provided by the Project to bring reforms in the State.

Earlier in his welcomes address the State Project Coordinator, State and Local Governance Reform SLOGOR project, Mr. Yemi Ijidele had commended the efforts of the state Government of Osun, European Union for given the project the necessary support in his implementations.