Kogi State in North Central Nigeria and Yobe State in the North East have won the World Bank fiscal transparency and revenue mobilisation awards.
According to statements issued separately by the two states, Kogi won the World Bank’s Awards of Excellence in three categories – Fiscal Transparency and Accountability, Debt Sustainability and Domestic Revenue Mobilisation.
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The significant awards were conferred on Kogi State at the Federal Government of Nigeria/World Bank States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Dinner with Governors/Award Night, held at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja on Monday.
The objective of the World Bank’s State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Program is to promote focus and attention of Nigerian States towards improvement of their PFM systems, processes and institutions, a statement on Tuesday, signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo, said.
The Auditor-General of Kogi State, Yakubu Okala, who spoke to journalists after the award ceremony attributed the celebrated success of the state in the areas of fiscal transparency and accountability to self-discipline, as well as the institution of a transparent and accountable governance system by Governor Yahaya Bello from the inception of his administration.
“The State is blessed with an incorruptible Governor who also provides leadership from all fronts, a professional to the core that has surrounded himself only with persons that have the capacity to deliver.”
The National Programme Coordinator, Ali Mohammed, who signed the invitation letter to states, said, “The SFTAS programme has achieved important milestones with remarkable improvement in fiscal transparency and accountability; increased domestic revenue mobilization; increased efficiency in public expenditure; and strengthened debt management.”
Equally, DG, Press and Media Affairs of the state, Mamman Mohammed, said SFTAS – the World Bank programme rated Yobe state government as the best performing state in Fiscal Transparency and Accountability.
The SFTAS award was in recognition of government transparency and accountability in conducting government financial transactions.
The Yobe state government has adhered to due process in awarding contracts and supply through the Bureau for Public Procurement to cut waste and get value for money.
The SFTAS rating is in confirmation with the best Due Process performing state award presented to Yobe state by the Association of Public Procurement Practitioners of Nigeria.
