Ahead of the 2013 budget estimates, the Kwara State government is reviewing compliance with performance contracts agreed with its ministries, departments and agencies in line with the Medium Term Sector Strategy (MTSS). MTSS is a four-year development plan drawn up by the government which contains policy statements, high-level strategies and key performance indicators and formed the basis of performance contracts drawn up by the
government last January.

The eight-man committee set up by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, has received and scrutinised reports of all MDAs in the state. The reports were then cross-checked by the committee through site visits and supporting documents to ensure compliance with published work plans in line with the performance contract approach to program implementation. According to a statement by Dr. Muideen Akorede, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the state governor, the key performance indicators and work plans
contained in the contracts were derived from the MTSS which also inspired the 2012 budget provisions.

"Governor Ahmed is focussed on performance through optimal utilisation of resources and wants to ensure that the performance targets set out in the MTSS and as agreed with commissioners, permanent secretaries and heads of agencies are adhered to as these plans such as the planned rehabilitation of Federal Roads and renovation of all general hospitals have already been communicated to the public and must be delivered on a timely and efficient basis", said Akorede who added that early indications from submissions made
to the committee which is expected to submit its report to the state governor this month were very positive.

These, Akorede said, include the rehabilitation of 800 kilometres of urban and rural roads, the on-going modernisation of Ilorin, Offa, Kaiama, Omu-Aran and Share Hospitals, supply of equipment to general hospitals and cottage hospitals, second phase of the Ilorin Water Reticulation Project, 76 urban and rural electrification projects, rehabilitation of 200 blocks of class rooms in 58 secondary schools and the rehabilitation of the Kwara
State School for Special Needs

The committee was set up by the state government last August to assess the performance of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and to identify an implementation road map for MDAs for the next year based on current realities and needs of the people of Kwara State. Gold told committee members at their first sitting to see their assignment as a call to duty and approach their deliberations with upmost diligence, objectivity and
fairness bearing in mind that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed was focussed on delivering the Shared Prosperity to the people on a timely and efficient basis.