Posted by The Guardian on
In keeping with its new development strategic plan for Nigeria, the delegation of the European Union Commission to Nigeria, in collaboration with the National Planning Commission....
In keeping with its new development strategic plan for Nigeria, the delegation of the European Union Commission to Nigeria, in collaboration with the National Planning Commission, is launching two major development programmes in the country. The programme is meant for two sectors:
Institutional and Economic Reforms (particularly at state and local government level) as well as water and sanitation. They are worth a grant funding of N23.5 billion and are being awarded to the six focal states recently determined by the SEEDS benchmarking exercise conducted by the National Planning Commission.The states are: Anambra, Cross-River, Jigawa, Kano, Osun and Yobe. The Support to Reforming Institutions Programme SRIP worth N9.3 billion according to a statement on Wednesday by the EC's communications officer Kelechi Onyemaobi, will assist governments in improving the quality of services delivered to the public in the 6 focal states. In a first phase, selected institutions will be supported to ensure transparent and efficient management of public finances. The programmes will also work with civil society organisations, who will assist in monitoring the use of these finances.
The aim of the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme is to contribute to the sustainable achievement of the water-related Millennium Development Goals.Working in close co-operation with SRIP, the programme is expected to strengthen institutions in the sector to make water available more widely and more easily. Direct investments in water and sanitation infrastructure will occur where reforms are proving successful, as a complement to Government resources. Not less than 1,400 rural communities and 60 small towns in the six states, representing about 2.1 million people, will benefit directly from this programme.