The Executive Director Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy &Development, (FENRAD), Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor led the UNDP Tax4SDGs team to Abia State Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu in Abia State on the 11th and 12th of July 2023.
The working visit which was facilitated by the SSA to the governor of Multilateral and Donor Finance Odinaka Eric Eme hosted the Abia state Team lead Tax for SDGs & Tax justice & Governance platform, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office Abuja, Mr. Saied Tafida Sulaiman and his Economic Research Associate, Grace Arinze Ononwu among other government functionaries.
A release made available by Head of media and communication FENRAD states that the team was received by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, on behalf of the state Government and several key Government officials including Hon. Isaac Chimereze Okoro, SA on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Hon. Matthew C. Ekwuribe, Hon. Commissioner for Digital Economy and SMEs, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, Hon. Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, and Industry, Rev. Fr. Anokwuru Christian Uche Ph.D. – Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions and Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor Team leader Abia state Tax justice & Governance platform, a Civil Society Organization representative.
Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor FENRAD Boss thanked the Governor for his giant strides in the state in his short time in office, stated that he will use his good office to rally strong support bring Development partners and Donors Agencies to support Government programme and project. He then introduced the UNDP representative to the Secretary to the State Government.
On his part, the UNDP Representative, Mr. Saied Tafida Suleiman noted that the objectives of the visit were to congratulate Abia State on her selection as one of the three (3) Pilot states, alongside Ondo and Kaduna states, for Integrated National Finance Framework (INFF) implementation in Nigeria, adding that the INFF provides a framework for financing national sustainable development priorities and the SDGs at the country level.
“A country’s sustainable development strategy lays out what needs to be financed. Therefore the UNDP wishes for Abia state to enumerate the projects it wishes to be supported under the project”
He also stated that the visit will afford them firsthand opportunity to:
- Discuss the content of the Tax for SDGs Country Engagement Plan (CEP)
- Support the state to align inclusive economic growth and fiscal policies with the SDGs.
- Meet with relevant government representatives from key ministries and agencies to discuss how to support efforts in policy and administration reforms specifically and development more widely.
- Deepen the engagement with UNDP Country Office on Tax and SDGs and investment promotion.
In his reaction, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu reiterated the government’s commitment to partnering with relevant organizations to bring the needed sustainable economic growth and development to the state and expressed appreciation to the UNDP representatives for making Abia one of the pilot states for the project. He further noted that the state needs help in all facets of development and assured them of the government’s readiness to fulfill her part of the obligation.
The Team earlier on hold meeting with CSOs to brief them of the opportunities in the proposed projects and seek areas of partnership and networking with the Government.
The team concluded their Working visit with an Exit Meeting with the Hon. Commissioner for Budget and Planning Kingsley Anosike