The World Bank-assisted Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity Governance (HOPE-GOV) Program has engaged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to support the implementation of governance reforms in basic education and primary healthcare across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The program aims to strengthen inter-governmental coordination and collaboration to ensure successful implementation.
According to Dr. Assad Hassan, National Coordinator of the HOPE-GOV Program, the NGF is a critical platform for fostering inter-governmental coordination and collaboration. The program is designed to maximize the utilization of federal and state funds in the health and basic education sectors, while reinforcing transparency and monitoring of inter-governmental transfers and expenditure.
The $500 million Performance Incentive Program is structured around three result areas: increasing the availability and effectiveness of financing for basic education and primary healthcare service delivery, enhancing transparency and accountability in financing, and improving the recruitment, deployment, and performance management of basic education teachers and primary healthcare workers.
The program also aims to close staffing gaps in the education and health sectors by incentivizing states to recruit, retain, and equitably deploy teachers and priority healthcare workers. The World Bank Task Team Lead, Mr. Ikechukwu Nweje, emphasized that the program provides a unique opportunity to build the capacity of civil servants across the states to sustain and drive the reform process.
The Director-General of the NGF, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, expressed optimism that the HOPE-GOV Program would mark a significant maturation of state governments’ reform journey, shifting the focus from merely publishing data to using data to improve outcomes. The NGF looks forward to working closely with the federal government, states, the World Bank, and stakeholders to ensure the program delivers on its promise.
The collaboration between the HOPE-GOV Program and the NGF is expected to have a significant impact on the development of Nigeria’s human capital, particularly in the areas of basic education and primary healthcare. With the program’s focus on improving governance, service delivery, and outcomes, it is anticipated that Nigerians will benefit from enhanced access to quality education and healthcare services. The success of the program will depend on the commitment and readiness of state governments to implement the reforms.
