The Abia State Government says it has taken steps to strengthen the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit to enhance oversight of all ongoing projects across the state.
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu stated this while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executives Council Meeting, chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
The Commissioner emphasized that the monitoring and evaluation unit will improve the smooth implementation of government projects and guarantee that the government receives value for money across its initiatives, projects, and processes.
Prince Kanu said that as a responsible and responsive government, the present administration would continue to put up measures to ensure that all monies at its disposal are judiciously utilized for the benefit of Abians and other residents.
“Of course you know that the monitoring and evaluation unit is domiciled in the office of the Governor and has been strengthened to ensure that there’s value for money over government Initiatives, projects, processes etc.
“As a responsible and responsive government, that is the way to go to ensure that all government initiative and projects are executed in a manner that will ensure that resources of the state are optimally deployed to achieve the best outcomes that will ensure dividends of democracy for all Abians and residents in line with governments promises and policies.
“Over the weekend, most of you must have read where His Excellency was out there inspecting some projects. It speaks to what the monitoring and evaluation unit does and in carrying out their own functions to ensure that everybody executing any project on behalf of the state government does so in line with stated goals”, he said.
Prince Kanu also noted that the present government through the Ministry Works is currently handling a total of 27 road projects across the state with some already commissioned while others are at different levels of completion.
“What it speaks to, is the fact that the state government is laying a lot of emphasis on road infrastructure as one of the key indices of development of the state, so on a continuous basis, roads and more roads will continue to be rehabilitated or constructed”, Prince Kanu assured.
On the forthcoming free Medical mission to be conducted by the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America (ANPA) next month, the Commissioner noted that about 2500 patients have so far registered, adding that over 5000 patients are expected to benefit from the programme.
Addressing the recent disturbances between students at the Abia State University (ABSU), which lead to the unfortunate loss of life, Prince Kanu said that the state government in response to the situation, swiftly dispatched security agencies to restore peace and order in the campus.
He advised students across tertiary institutions in the state to refrain from violence and disruptive actions that could jeopardize their safety and academic pursuits.
The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Chinedu Ekeke, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor as well as the S.A on Media and Publicity Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma were present during the briefing.
