Ranked best-performing state in southern Nigeria

Ondo State Government has emerged the top-performing state in Southern Nigeria and third Best Performing State in Nigeria on NG-CARES programme.

Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, through the Federal Government, awarded and presented the state government with a certificate of achievement for being the top-performing state in the region and the third-best performing state overall among the 36 states in the country.

Chairman, Federal CARES Technical Committee (FCTC), Rev Aso Vakporaye, who spoke at the formal presentation of the award to the state government, specifically lauded the state government for setting the pace for others to follow. He described the NG-CARES programme in the state, under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, as a huge success and commendable.

Meanwhile, in a statement made available to The Guardian, Chief Press Secretary to Ondo State Governor, Richard Olatunde, said the emergence of the state followed the first independent results verification exercise of the NG-CARES programme in the country.

The statement reads: “The results of the exercise were validated by the Federal CARES Technical Committee and approved and published by the World Bank.

“According to the first independent results verification exercise, a total of 56,161 poor and vulnerable people from 18 local councils of the state benefited from the first implementation cycle of the programme in the state.

“Under the leadership of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Ondo State has excelled in implementing the NG-CARES programme, which focuses on supporting communities and individuals affected by the socio-economic challenges faced in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This significant achievement is a testament to the Akeredolu-led administration’s unwavering commitment to promoting accountability and transparency in governance.

“The government’s dedication to effectively utilising the allocated resources and ensuring their optimal impact has been key to this recognition.

“Governor Akeredolu has consistently prioritised accountability and transparency as core principles of governance, as well as setting an example for other states to follow.”

“This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of the OD-CARES Steering Committee (SCSC) and the entire team of the OD-CARES programme.”

“We will continue to explore innovative strategies to improve the well-being of the people, ensuring that every sector of the society thrives.

“We are determined to build on this success, collaborating with relevant stakeholders to create an even more prosperous and equitable future for all residents of Ondo State,” the statement further stated.