The Oyo State Executive Council has approved the sum of N800 million as counterpart fund for the state Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency.
The state government said the fund would be utilised for partnership on the expanded water supply, sanitation and hygiene in 20 local government areas of the state.
At the end of the State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Seun Fakorede; his counterpart in Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun; the Commissioner for Budget, Niyi Farinto, and the Commissioner for Energy, Seun Ashamu, addressed journalists.
According to them, the governor also directed that the state pensioners in the diaspora should be screened virtually for the ongoing Staff Audit and Payroll Re-engineering Exercise, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the stress involved in pensioners coming home to be screened as reasons for the decision.
The SEC also approved that a bill for the upgrade of the Fire Service Unit of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to a fire service agency be forwarded to the House of Assembly.
Fakorede said, “After the State Executive Council meeting today, conclusions were reached and approval was gotten from the Exco for N800million, which is meant to be a counterpart contribution to the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency.
“This counterpart funding is meant to attract a total of N2,967,700,000 only from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
“This fund is required to provide for implementation of partnerships for expanded water supply, sanitation and hygiene in 20 out of 33 local government areas of the state.
“As contained in the Oyo State investment plan and as submitted to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the project will work towards sustainable improvement of the water supply, sanitation and hygiene – situation in urban, small towns and rural areas in the state – in order to better serve our people.”
Olatubosun added, “In the same vein, the council also approved virtual screening for Oyo State pensioners in the diaspora due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and the stress it would cause the pensioners and the cost of coming home for the ongoing Staff Audit and Payroll Re-engineering Exercise.
“The Executive Council has graciously approved that video calls be used by the consultant on the scheme in order to capture this set of pensioners.
“In this regard, pensioners in the diaspora and their relations are hereby enjoined to utilise this golden opportunity offered by Governor Seyi Makinde, to make themselves available for the exercise.”
