The Bayelsa State Government has said that its commitment to transparency and accountability is beginning to yield positive results through increased recognition, partnerships, and development opportunities for the state.
Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Peter Akpe, stated this on Thursday during the inauguration of the state Steering and Technical Committees for the implementation of the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity Governance programme, popularly known as HOPE-GOV, at Government House, Yenagoa.
According to a statement issued by the Deputy Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, Dr. Akpe described HOPE-GOV as a World Bank-supported four-year rolling programme aimed at improving financing, management, and accountability in basic education and primary healthcare delivery in the state.
He commended the administration of Governor Douye Diri for consistently implementing transparency and accountability reforms, noting that such initiatives had positioned Bayelsa to benefit from support provided by the World Bank and other development partners.
The Deputy Governor explained that Bayelsa remained one of the few states in Nigeria that regularly briefs citizens on its financial activities on a monthly basis, adding that the government’s financial records remain accessible due to Governor Diri’s commitment to openness in governance.
He further described HOPE-GOV as a performance-for-results initiative involving the Bayelsa State Government, the Federal Government, and the World Bank, with implementation expected to continue until 2029.
Dr. Akpe urged members of both committees to justify the confidence reposed in them by ensuring effective implementation of the programme across its core focus areas of human capital development, prosperity, and equity.
He said the available funding under the initiative, including the US$5.2 million earmarked for 2025 and the US$8.5 million expected in 2026, reflected the credibility and confidence the state had earned through its reform-driven policies.
According to him, the programme is expected to strengthen financing for schools and primary healthcare facilities, deepen transparency in resource management, and improve the recruitment, deployment, and performance of teachers and frontline health workers.
The HOPE-GOV Steering Committee is chaired by Governor Douye Diri, while the Acting Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr. Irorodamie Komonibo, serves as Vice Chairman. The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Maxwell Ebibai, will serve as State Programme Lead and Chairman of the Technical Committee.
The Technical Adviser to the Governor on Treasury, Accounts and Revenue, Mr. Timipre Seipulou, is the Focal Person and Secretary of the Technical Committee.
Other members of the committees include key government officials from the Ministries of Finance, Budget, Local Government, the Office of the Accountant General, the Auditor General’s office, and representatives from the education and primary healthcare sectors.
