Dr Assad hailed the Forum for its leadership in championing strategic interventions aimed at promoting governance, service delivery, and outcomes in the basic education and primary healthcare sectors in the country. He added that the Initiative will also enhance the execution of coordinated annual service delivery plans and improve accountability in health and basic education spending across all levels of government. The HOPE-GOV Program, he said, additionally aims to close staffing gaps in the education and health sectors by incentivising states to recruit, retain, and equitably deploy teachers and priority healthcare workers. According to the National Coordinator, the $500 million Performance Incentive Program, is structured around three result areas: increasing the availability and effectiveness of financing for basic education and primary healthcare service delivery; enhancing transparency and accountability in the financing of basic education and primary healthcare; and improving the recruitment, deployment, and performance management of basic education teachers and primary healthcare workers by federal, state, and local governments. “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum looks forward to working closely with the Federal Government, States, the World Bank, andstakeholders to ensure that this program delivers on its promise,” he said.