State Govt. sensitises officials to new public finance law

Kemi Adeosun

Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance

Idris Nyam

The Kaduna State Government says it has evolved tools to  implement the state’s new Fiscal Responsibility Procurement Law.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Idris Nyam, gave the indication at the  opening of a  three-day workshop for  Directors and Deputy directors in the state’s civil service.

Nyam said the sensitisation workshop was being organised to enlighten the participants on the  relevance of implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility, Procurement and Public Finance laws of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that “a law to provide for the control and and management of the public finance of Kaduna State” was enacted and came into force in March 2016.

The workshop, organised by the finance ministry in collaboration with the Public Governance Reform and Development Project, is funded by the World Bank.

Nyam said: “It may interest you to know that we have gone extra mile to bring one of the World Bank finest resource person for workshop, putting in mind quality and proficiency.

“So, our expectation is for all participants to be more knowledgeable in the new financial system in place for effective service delivery in our respective ministries, departments and agencies,” Nyam said.

Meanwhile, the World Bank official, Mrs Abimbola Ogunseitan,  appraised  the basics of  Fiscal Discipline and Procurement Guidelines.

She said MDAs should work with a strategic plan in accordance with the needs of the state with well defined activities to ensure set goals were achieved within the allocated finances.

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This, she said, would only be possible with  “an  output base budget,” where its financing must be specifically identified and directed  under  capital or recurrent expenditures.

According to the MDAs, going by the new law,  states must develop their manpower to ensure effective implementation of  projects to get value for their money.

The World Bank official pointed out the need for the agencies to establish effective monitoring and evaluation units to ensure projects were delivered according plan and specification within their timeline.

Ogunseitan said the the state law was explicit that if adhered to, would ensure efficiency in public expenditure management.

“It will improve business environment and lives as well as  generate  wealth for the people of the state and provide infrastructure and social services.

NAN reports that about 130 directors and their deputies attended the workshop.

Meanwhile, local government directors and their deputies in the 23 councils are expected to attend similar workshop in the second day of the event.

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