Yobe State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have agreed to work towards improving water, hygiene and sanitation, as well as educational development of the state.

The State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, who received the Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Jean Gough, said the State government would pay its 30 per cent counterpart fund between the months of September and October, to enable the take-off of the various programme in the state.

The governor attributed the delay in the payment of the counterpart fund to the dwelling resources, but expressed confidence that the situation would change for the better.

Gaidam said: “The state will contribute its part of the counterpart fund along with the Local Governments of the state on a ratio of 18 to 12 respectively.”

He commended UNICEF for its commitment to improving the lots of the people, mostly in developing economy.

According to him, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNICEF and the Yobe State Government was signed in 2013 and would run to 2018. He assured UNICEF representatives that the State, under his leadership, would abide by the terms of the agreement, to achieve the desired results.

Ms. Gough, while soliciting for strict adhering to the terms of the MoU, assured Governor Gaidam that her organisation would work assiduously towards serving the State better.

She said UNICEF would its best in improving water, hygiene, sanitation and particularly education which had been badly affected by the Boko Haram militants’ activities in the north-east, with much concentration in Yobe and Borno States.

The Country Representative commended the State government for the polio eradication, but urged them to work towards frequent immunisation and to ensure they reached all nooks and crannies of the State.

UNICEF is to contribute 70 per cent for the programmes to be implemented in the state, while the state and the Local Government will pay 30 per cent of the amount.

UNICEF has presently opened a D Field office in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, to take charge of activities in Yobe and Borno States worse hit by the terrorists group. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Gov. Gaidam

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