Governor Seriake Dickson has commended the Federal Government for using the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a platform to address the core areas of poverty alleviation and collaborating with state governments in tackling development issues.
Governor Dickson made the commendation when he received the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Dr Precious Gbeneor in Government House, Yenagoa.
He particularly lauded the agency for the provision of counterpart funding for development projects and soft loans for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Expressing willingness to partner with the interventionist agency, Governor Dickson said his administration has put in place a framework to drive such collaboration, especially in the areas of education, health and critical infrastructure.
The Governor also saluted the efforts of the President and the SSA towards alleviating the plight of flood victims through the provision of relief materials.
Describing Bayelsa as a massive refugee camp occasioned by the flood, Hon Dickson called on international donor organisations and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of the state government as the problem has gone beyond the state and federal governments.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant on Millennium Development Goals, Dr Precious Gbeneor said the visit was to identify with the government and people of the state over the flood crisis.
The SSA assured the Governor of the agency’s determination to scale up its intervention in the state in the area of health, education and poverty alleviation.
Dr Gbeneor recalled that the Federal Government released about N1.3b through the agency last year, which was utilized in supplying medical equipment as well as building of primary healthcare centres and classrooms in the state.
According to her, the agency will upgrade its funding to about four local government areas in the state especially through its “conditional cash transfer” programme, which focuses on indigent women and children.
Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State
23/10/2012
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