BENIN CITY – The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice ANEEJ, has called on Edo State Government to increase its interventions in the Education and Health sectors in subsequent budgets as a way to curb illegal migration.
The Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor made the appeal at the town hall meeting to discuss the Report of Budget Monitoring in the Education sector of Edo State held in Benin City.
According to him the town hall meeting to discuss the report of Budget monitoring into the education sector of Edo State is part of the implementation of activities under ANEEJ.
“Tackling human trafficking through advocacy to increase investment on human capital development and civic engagement in Edo Stage.
He disclosed that in line with the projects goal ANEEJ commissioned a research on corruption – migration Nexus and created a platform for policy dialogue with relevant stakeholders.
“We organized press conferences and held a public presentation of the report to relevant stakeholders for their inputs into the process.
“The project also ensured the training of CSOs, media, academia and citizens on Human Capital Development, Anti – Corruption, Budget-monitoring-and-tracking and the feedback from these events have been quite reassuring,” he noted.
He said the findings from the report are based on the implementation of the 2019/2020 Edo State government budget, adding that a total of 20 projects were assessed in the three senatorial districts of the state, and 14 of the projects assessed have been completed, five on-going and one yet to commence.
“There are a couple of recommendations contained in the report for government and the State House of Assembly. The lawmakers need to step up their oversight role and the executive arm of government should adequately mobilize contractors to site to enable them complete projects allocated within the contractual time-frame,” he added.
While appreciating the Swiss Embassy for the funds provided ANEEJ, which made it possible to convene the event, Rev. Ugolor advised Civil Society Organizations, Media and Citizens at large to always engage the government to ensure regular monitoring of projects to forestall projects abandonment.
It was the views of stakeholders present at the town hall meeting that the purpose of the project report is not to be confrontational with anybody but to be a platform to support government toward investing in human capital as seen in the 2021 budget and some of the recommendation of the report is that on-going projects as well as projects allocated for in 2019/2020 budget yet to commence should be completed in time.
There should be sanction for contractors who use substandard materials”, the project report also recommended.
