The transparency and accountability of Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has earned the state a World Bank grant of N20 billion.

The two-year grant followed the state’s impressive performance under the State Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability Programmes for Results (SFTAS).

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital and Strategic Communications, Yusuf Ali, stated, yesterday, in Damaturu that the fund had been utilised for infrastructure development and social services.

According to him, the infrastructure and social services have direct bearings on the lives of the people in the state.

His words: “The SFTAS is a programme by the World Bank and Federal Government to deepen transparency in budgeting processes for the qualified states. It consists of different requirements, including Disbursement Link Indicators (DLIs).”

Ali explained that they were assigned tasks that the World Bank designed for institutions, as well as states that qualify to participate in budgeting and budgetary performance indicators.

“The second component is Disbursement Linked Results, which the World Bank’s Independent Verification Assessors use as yardstick to assess institutions and states’ performance compliance in relation to DLI’s performance evaluation,” he stated.

The synopsis of SFTAS, he added, is predicated on performance for results, noting that 36 states can earn financial grant rewards after performance in all indicators of budgetary requirements.

The Commissioner for Finance, Musa Mustapha, said the state’s consistent budget cycle, entrenchment of due process and inclusiveness by the administration played a crucial role in achieving the feat.

He added: “It is gratifying, and a matter of particular importance, to note that Yobe has won the overall top performer award on SFTAS. Its performance in all DLI won the overall best state for the top performer award.”

The World Bank award, The Guardian gathered, was recently presented by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, in Abuja.

According to him, the state government is working assiduously to earn the 2023 edition of the grant