Anambra hosts SSGs, others

• Assures improved service deliver

Anambra  State  Government  has sued for  synergy between the federal  and states  government   in order to improve service delivery across  the states.

Governor Willie Obiano, who  was represented by his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, during the regional meeting of Secretaries to States  Government, Heads and Permanent Secretaries of Cabinet Affairs Offices in the South East Zone, held  recently  at Golden Tulip Hotel, Agulu, appreciated the process of having a community of practice as an innovative idea to ensure that all states meet regularly to share problems and proffer solutions to their challenges and to improve the synergy between the federal  and states ministries.

“If we all begin to work together to improve service delivery in our states, I believe that more development partners will be able to come and assist us for things to improve,” Obiano  stated.

The governor, who congratulated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, on his reappointment, also noted that the Office of the Secretary to the State Government is the engine place for all government functions

In his address, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu, said  that the Cabinet Affairs Office worldwide remains an indispensable tool to actualize the policy objectives of government, both at the national and sub-national level.

‘We expect that the meeting will facilitate collaboration between the states and federal government, in performing their shared goals and robust interface for effective policy coordination and development of appropriate systems for measurement on performance by government,” Mustapha said.

He added  that the meeting will pave way for cross fertilization of ideas, on the strategies of developing an operating framework for policy coordination, as a monitoring system that could enrich policy and decision making which will ultimately result in efficient service delivery.

Secretary to Anambra State  Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, said  Anambra  Cabinet Affairs Office provides administrative and technical assistance to all meetings  of the state executive council.

He  noted that the office, in collaboration with the project management and monitoring office also tracks, monitors decisions and approvals in the council. He also requested the SGF to  extend his training opportunities to the staff of the Cabinet Affairs Offices.

Director General, South East Governor’s Forum, Prof. Simon  Ortoanya, said South East  governor’s  feel the need to pursue regional integration and regional economic  development.

Ortoanya  emphasized the need to develop a community of practice that will stand the test of time and erase every conflict between the cabinet affairs office and any other office of government.

“The deliberations and resolutions from this meeting will ensure efficiency in governance, stability and promote hard work on the part of those that have been charged with the responsibility of moving the state forward,” Ortoanya said.

On his part, Permanent Secretary  ,Cabinet Affairs Office, Mr. Babatunde Lawal, said  that the meeting was designed to allow for an  in depth discussion on the modalities for strengthening the affairs of the cabinet affairs offices across the nation for effective delivery of their mandate.

“All SSGs, Heads and Perm Secs are expected to share experiences and agree on a template for the tracking and bench marking of all approved policies, programs and projects by the federal and state executive council,” Lawal informed.