World Bank releases $27 million to 20 Nigerian states for hitting reform targets

The World Bank is paying out $27 million in performance-based grants to 20 Nigerian states. The money comes under the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Governance Programme.

Dr. Assad Hassan, the National Coordinator of the programme, announced the disbursement on Tuesday in Abuja. He spoke during a retreat for Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Budget and Planning.

The HOPE Governance Programme is a $500 million World Bank-backed initiative. It sits under the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. The goal is to improve financing for basic education and primary healthcare. It also aims to strengthen transparency, accountability and workforce management in both sectors.

Hassan explained that the grants reward states for meeting specific reform milestones. These are called Year Zero Disbursement-Linked Results (DLRs). States had to adopt comprehensive planning guidelines for basic education and primary healthcare. They also had to implement harmonised local government budget guidelines and publish citizens' budgets for public spending transparency.

An Interim Independent Verification Agent (IVA) assessed each state before approving funding.

Bayelsa, Borno, Kano, Kebbi and Yobe each qualified for $1.5 million under DLR 2.1. That required adopting guidelines for consolidated basic education work plans. The same five states also earned another $1.5 million each under DLR 2.2 for primary healthcare work plan guidelines.

Under DLR 2.3, which focused on local government budget guidelines and a standard chart of accounts, nine states will get $500,000 each. They are Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Gombe, Kano, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe.

For DLR 2.4, which required publishing citizens' budgets, 15 states will each receive $500,000. The qualifying states are Abia, Bayelsa, Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Plateau and Yobe.