The United Kingdom (UK) has strengthened its development initiatives in Jigawa State following a strategic dialogue with the State Government on how to improve health, education, social protection, governance and economic transformation.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the Development Director of the British High Commission in Nigeria’s, Christopher Pycroft and representatives from the High Commission held the strategic dialogue talks with the Jigawa State Government to discuss the Jigawa Mutual Accountability Framework (JiMAF).
JiMAF, which was signed by both parties, is a policy document that provides the blueprint for the socio-economic development of Jigawa State and it formed the basis for the dialogue with both parties setting out their commitments and ways to hold each other mutually accountable.
Speaking on the initiative Pycroft said: “This Strategic Dialogue to discuss our mutual accountability commitments affords us all the opportunity to do more. Jigawa State faces many challenges on the road to sustainable development – but this JiMAF is a call to action. We can use this strategic dialogue to discuss what both sides can do differently to deliver more results for the people of Jigawa state and empower them to fulfil their potential.”
Dr. Pycroft commended the performance of the state on Budget transparency for coming top among 36 States on Budget Transparency Index 2020 ranking.
H said further that “The UK is absolutely delighted to have supported Jigawa state through this process over the last three editions of SFTAS (States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability) implementation in Jigawa State. We supported it because we believe budget transparency matters, and the way it matters about the citizens, and how they trust the government on how all these monies get used.”
Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar,explained that with the new policy, the state would work with the development partners for its full implementation and will not relent until the set objectives are achieved, which is aimed at delivering good governance to the people of Jigawa state.
This initiative is under the auspices of the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) in Nigeria which has played a strong role over the past 20 years in the development and growth of the state.
