World Bank approves $27m for states’ reforms

The World Bank-supported HOPE Governance Programme has approved the disbursement of $27 million in performance-based incentives to states that met the Year Zero Disbursement-Linked Results (DLRs) under the programme.

The National Coordinator of the HOPE Governance Programme, Dr Assad Hassan, disclosed this on Tuesday during a retreat for Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Budget and Planning from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja.

In a statement Tuesday by the Programme’s Communications Officer, Joe Mutah, Hassan said the approval followed the recommendations of the Interim Independent Verification Agent (IVA), which assessed states’ performance against the Year Zero Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs).

“The disbursement is based on the findings and recommendations of the Interim Independent Verification Agent, which verified the performance of participating states in meeting the Year Zero Disbursement-Linked Indicators,” he said.

Hassan explained that the Year Zero results covered the adoption of comprehensive guidelines for preparing and submitting consolidated work plans for state basic education and primary healthcare budgets, as well as the adoption of harmonised budget guidelines and a chart of accounts by local governments. Another indicator assessed whether participating states published the 2025 Citizens’ Budget for Basic Education and Primary Health Care.

According to him, Bayelsa, Borno, Kano, Kebbi and Yobe states qualified for $1.5 million each under DLR 2.1 for adopting comprehensive guidelines for the preparation and submission of consolidated work plans for state basic education budgets.

The same five states also qualified for $1.5 million each under DLR 2.2 for adopting comprehensive guidelines for state primary healthcare budgets.

For DLR 2.3, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Gombe, Kano, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe states will each receive $500,000 for adopting harmonised local government budget guidelines and a chart of accounts.

Similarly, Abia, Bayelsa, Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Plateau and Yobe qualified for $500,000 each under DLR 4.1 for publishing their 2025 Citizens’ Budget for Basic Education and Primary Health Care.