THE United Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Yobe State Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on how to improve the state’s water supply and sanitation schemes, including the development of the education sector in the next two years.
Signing the MoU Friday at the Government House, Damaturu, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam said that the intervention of UNICEF in addressing Yobe’s water supply and sanitation problems; will save the lives of women and children from water borne diseases.
The state governor, who received the country representative in Nigeria Ms. Jean Gough says the state government will pay its counterpart fund between the months of September and October to enable the take-off of the various programme in the state.
The governor however; attributed the delay in the payment of the counterpart fund to the dwelling resources; but expresses confidence that the situation is changing for the better.
“The state will contribute its part of the counterpart fund along with the Local Governments paying 18 per cent; while the state contributes 12 per cent into the fund. We commended UNICEF for its commitment towards improving the lots of our people mostly in developing economy,” said Gaidam.
He said the recent MoU between UNICEF and the Yobe state government was signed in 2013 and will run into 2018; assuring that the state under his leadership will abide by the terms of the agreement to achieve the desired results.
The UNICEF country representatives in Nigeria, Ms Jean Gough while soliciting for strict adhering to the terms of the MoU; assured that her organisation will work assiduously towards serving the state better.
She said UNICEF will do its best in improving water, hygiene, sanitation and particularly in the education sector; which has been badly affected by Boko Haram in Yobe and Borno states.
UNICEF is to contribute 70 per cent for the programmes to be implemented in the state while the state and the Local Government will pay 30 per cent of the amount.
