The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Goals (MDGs) Dr. Precious Gbeneol has reiterated her offices’ resolve to constantly make the Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) a veritable tool for the delivery of high impact interventions to the vulnerable.
She made this known in Abuja during the sensitisation workshop for the 2012 Conditional Grant Scheme to states application, even as she said that FG will continue to encourage states and local governments to build capacity that will improve their financial management systems, transparency and enhance service delivery in the sectors.
According to her, “The objectives of this workshop is to review the challenges, consolidate on the achievement so far and strengthen the capacity of stakeholders at all levels as we prepare for the 2012 CGS round.”
In her opening speech, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iwella who was represented by George Nwalupue hinted that the National Council on the Conditional Grant Scheme (NCCGS has approved investment focus areas for 2012 as well as the scaling up to more local government.
She further revealed that the investment focus for 2012 will dwell mostly on poverty alleviation, health, water and sanitation sectors in line with the transformation agenda of the president, while adding that funds will be released promptly for the 2012 implementation of the CGS.
In her words, “In view of the achievements recorded with the CGS to states and LGAs over the years, I will ensure that funds are released for the successful implementation of the 2012 CGS round. I encourage states and LGAs to ensure that they meet up with the requirements (counterpart funds, bank guarantee and effective utilisation of previous funds.