Forum charges states on human capital development

State governments have been urged to embark on periodic development plans,  which will in turn bring about the desired infrastructure and human capital development .

This was part of the submission of resource persons over the weekend at the second edition of John Mayaki Roundtable, a programme initiated to assess the outgoing government of Adams Oshiomhole in various sectors with participants drawn from various segments pf the society, including media, government officials, civil society groups, religious leaders, student union leaders and others.

Mayaki, who is the Executive Director (Media) to Oshiomhole said there have been strategic achievement of the state government which are “indescribable” but have gone a long way in shaping the success of the administration. In his presentation, the State coordinator, State Employment And Expenditure For Results Project (SEEFOR), Taiwo Akerele in his presentation lauded the state government for having a 10 years development plsn started in 2009 which he has been responsible for the monumental achievement of the administration.

He said there was the open portal website by the state government which was declared open in 2013 with the aim of enhancing transparency in governance and ensuring that the civil society and ordinary people have access to government information and also make input into the governance process. As at the period, it was the first in Africa.

He said the development plan popularly known as Sector Strategy Plans (SSP) “is the document that is presently guiding the government development approach between 2009 and 2016. Very few states have an approved development plan.”

Besides, he said there is the Oracle accounting package that regulates the payment system architecture of the state government without which no valid transaction can take place in the state. He said this has regulated transaction in the state.

Akerele said Edo state is the first state in the country to publish all contract awards above the N10m threshold “on our open portal and Edo state website and updated regularly.   “In 2010, the Governor approved the establishment of the Public-Private Partnership Office to cater for local and foreign investors interested in doing business with the state government.

He said the state government also amended the Audit law which was never done since 1982 to strengthen the Office of the Auditor – General of the state to perform its statutory functions more effectively and independently.

“Edo is one of the few states in Nigeria to have a functional procurement law and a functional Public Procurement Agency.

As we speak, the government has approved for the in-house recruitment and transfer of eligible civil servants into the procurement officers cadre of the civil service.

“Edo State is one of the few states in Nigeria since 2008 that have consistently maintained a 65 per cent budget ratio in favour of capital expenditure.”