The Kogi State Commissioner for Finance Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Asiwaju Asiru Idris say the impact of Covid19 and all the issues has made people who were poor in 2019 now made poorer in 2020 added that even a significant proportion that were not previously poor are now either
poor or vulnerable.
The Commissioner made the disclosure during his WELCOME ADDRESS ON THE OCCASION
OF A 1-DAY STAKEHOLDERS SENSITIZATION TRAINING, HELD ON 14 JAN., 2021 held AT THE GLASS HOUSE, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, LOKOJA, KOGI STATE today.
The Commissioner explained that the essence of KG CARES, therefore, is to mitigate the effects of this harsh economic environment that we have been made to succumb to under COVID.
According to him the Kogi State Government, under the able leadership of His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello, has taken a giant stride towards industrializing the State, through the establishment of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara.
This he said is based on our realization that, the capacity and skills that we needed to develop, to support our ambitious development objectives cannot be attained under the status quo.
He added that ” It is important that I inform you that, Kogi State is making the right progress in the health sector, including the ongoing referral hospital.
Our investment in combating insecurity is paying off. Today, we enjoy relative peace in the State,
despite the fact that, our state is bordered by 10 states and Abuja. Only recently, Kogi State topped other States in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
I must also place on record that, our processes have considerably improved, from our budgeting, audited financial statements, procurement, debt servicing
etc.
This informed our coming 2″nd and 1″ in the SFTAS assessment for 2018 and 2019 respectively. With this rating in our PFM systems and the improved security environment, our State has possessed the right credential to attract the much needed investment to the State.
Full Speech of The Commissioner
WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE HON. COMMISSIONER OF FINANCE, BUDGET AND ECONOMIC PLANNING, MUKADAM ASIWAJU ASIRU IDRIS, ON THE OCCASION
OF A 1-DAY STAKEHOLDERS SENSITIZATION TRAINING, HELD ON 14 JAN., 2021. AT THE GLASS HOUSE, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, LOKOJA,KOGI STATE.
PROTOCOLS
I want welcome you all to this very important stakeholders’ sensitization training on Kogi CARES Program. The KG CARES initiative is at the heart of our obligation, as a Government, towards our most challenged people, the poor and the
vulnerable groups of the society.
Nigeria, as a country, has witnessed significant macro-economic instability over the last 5 years, beginning with a brief recession in 2016, occasioned by huge fall
in the global prices of crude oil.
The Federal Government, working with the States, introduced Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), which grew the
non-oil sector, particularly agriculture as well as stimulated demand through massive bailout initiatives. With these measures, the Government was able to spend its way out of recession.
In early 2020, the world started to witness huge disruptions over COVID-19 related issues. COVID forced lockdowns and restrictions across the globe and across sectors, which almost sniffed life out of humanity.
Based on this, many businesses were either short down or operated at far less than optimal capacity.
Expectedly, this led to inability of businesses to cover their recurrent costs, leading to upsurge in unemployment, inflation, poverty and other disturbing social and economic indices.
In 2019, Nigerians living below the poverty line was 80 Million out of 200 Million, representing 40% of our population. The coming of COVID, has contracted the GDP by over 6%, which further mounted pressure on our people, particularly the poor and vulnerable segment.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, with all the issues, there is no doubt that, our people who were poor in 2019 have been made poorer in 2020 and, even a significant proportion that were not previously poor are now either
poor or vulnerable.
The essence of KG CARES, therefore, is to mitigate the
effects of this harsh economic environment that we have been made to succumb to under COVID.
Kogi State Government, under the able leadership of His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello, has taken a giant stride towards industrializing the State, through the establishment of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara.
This is based on our realization that, the capacity and skills that we needed to develop, to support our ambitious development objectives cannot be attained under the status quo.
It is important that I inform you that, Kogi State is making the right progress in the health sector, including the ongoing referral hospital.
Our investment in combating insecurity is paying off. Today, we enjoy relative peace in the State,
despite the fact that, our state is bordered by 10 states and Abuja. Only recently, Kogi State topped other States in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
I must also place on record that, our processes have considerably improved, from our budgeting, audited financial statements, procurement, debt servicing
etc.
This informed our coming 2″nd and 1″ in the SFTAS assessment for 2018 and 2019 respectively. With this rating in our PFM systems and the improved security environment, our State has possessed the right credential to attract the much needed investment to the State.