World Bank project stakeholders undergo training in Yenagoa

World Bank project stakeholders undergo training in Yenagoa Some 200 participants of World Bank-assisted State Employment and Expenditure For Result (SEEFOR) Project in Bayelsa onWednesday commenced a two-day training exercise. The training was organised for field staff, contractors and supervisors on the techniques of labour-intensive public works. Declaring the training open on Wednesday in Yenagoa, Mr Ayens Adogu, Project Co-Ordinator, SEEFOR, Bayelsa said the training was aimed at enlightening the participants on the objectives and cardinal principles of the project. He said the field staff, contractors and supervisors ought to have a good knowledge of the SEEFOR project development model and apply the principles to create opportunities through public works to engage youths. According to him, the training would create additional value for job execution and help in the handling of grievances as well as enhance agency-community relations. "Essentially, this training is to cascade ideas and ideologies for the participants to be abreast of what to do and decisions to make to improve their relationship with workers", Adogu said. He urged the participants, numbering 200, to take the training seriously and make good use of the lessons from it, stressing that development requires the commitment of all stakeholders to make society better. In his remarks, Mr Tope Oribuyaku, an official of Techgrade Consulting, the training provider, noted that managing labour-intensive public works was difficult hence the need for the exercise. He said the contractors were under obligation to plan, manage and execute their jobs effectively to achieve quality result while ensuring safe working environment for workers. Oribuyaku stressed that "contractors must comply with specifications" in order not to face sanctions ranging from payment of liquidated damages to termination of contract. Mr Francis Damilola, a participant and contractor, commended the SEEFOR for coming up with the training programme, saying it would help them manage project funds properly. Also Mrs Ruth Terry, one of the supervisors, said that lessons from the training would guide them to supervise the project better to get quality outcome.