The Federal Government says it is optimistic that the engagement of an Independent Verification Agent (IVA) for the implementation of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme would provide states and FCT more funds to quickly address the issue of poverty in their various states.
The NG-CARES is a $750 million support operation from the World Bank with the objective to expand access to livelihood support and food security services and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms.
The Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba stated this at the signing of a contract between the federal government and Steigler Services Ltd to serve as the IVA of NG-CARES Programme in Abuja on Thursday.
Agba stated that the reimbursed funds would no doubt assist in reducing poverty in the country and boost the quest by President Muhammadu Buhari of lifting 100 million people out of poverty.
“The NG-CARES is a Performance for Result (PforR) Programme where results achieved by each State and FCT will have to be verified by Independent Verification Agent before reimbursement is made,” The Minister said, adding that, “this will make states and FCT work harder to get more funds and work for their people.
He said the use of IVA in the NG-CARES programme further reiterates President Muhammadu Buhari’s transparency crusade.
The Minister called on Nigerians to support the loudable programmes of the present administration and assured that the Federal Government would continue to focus on the poor and vulnerable in the country.
Speaking on the milestone achieved in respect to the engagement of the IVA, the National Coordinator of NG-CARES, Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje, said that the IVA engagement bidding process was very competitive and included both local and international firms. He added that Steigler Services Ltd had emerged as the most responsive and competitive bidder. He added that the World Bank Procurement guidelines for international competitive bidding were used in the selection of the IVA .
Obaje stated that the Federal CARES Support Unit (FCSU) of the NG-CARES Programme has fixed December 28, 2022 for the commencement of the first verification exercise that will run concurrently in all the States and FCT.
The Firm will verify the Results achieved by States and FCT since the commencement of the Programme implementation from June 2020.
The signing of the Contract document was undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.