State2State Supports Four Bauchi LGAs On Budget Manual Adaptation
Participants at Support Adaptation of the Bauchi State Budget Manual listening to a PowerPoint presentation by the PFM Specialist, State2State Activity Bauchi Field Office, Mr Isaac Otabor. Photo: Murtala Muhammad
By Murtala Muhammad
Budget and Planning Officers in Alkaleri, Bauchi, Katagum and Misau local government areas of Bauchi state are being supported on the adaptation state’s budget manual.
The four-day meeting is being funded by USAID Nigeria, State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity.
The State2State Public Financial Management (PFM) Specialist Bauchi Field Office, Mr Isaac Otabor said the objective of the meeting was to expose the participants on how to prepare budget at the local government levels using the State Budget Manual.
Mr Itabor who explained that State2State had last year supported the Bauchi state government developed a Budget Manual, that serves as a guide for budget preparation.
He added that the meeting would also acquaint the participants on assigning responsibility to the right persons with a view to achieve good results at the stimulated time.
Also speaking, the State Team Lead (STL), State2State Activity, Bauchi Field Office, Mrs Rabi Ekele called on the participants to be focused and attentive throughout the sessions, to enable them acquire the knowledge for effective implementation in their respective LGAs.
Mrs Ekele assured the State government of State2State’s continued support towards strengthening the capacity of its manpower on accountability, transparency and inclusiveness in governance for the overall benefit of citizens in the state.
In a remark, the Overseeing Permanent Secretary of State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mohammed Sani Ibrahim said the meeting would help the Local Government budget officers change their ways of operation in line with the global best practice.
Mohammed Ibrahim represented by the Director, Planning Research and Statistics of the ministry Mohammed Ya’u Abdu, expressed optimism that after the adaptation meeting, the officers would put to table all the knowledge garnered for improved service delivery.
Earlier, the state’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Idris Sale Giade stated that the approach would go a long way in ensuring paradigm shift among public and civil servants.
Represented by the Overseeing Director in the ministry, Ibrahim Ahmad Rufa’i, the Permanent Secretary noted that the State2State’s System and Capacity Strengthening model was commendable,
The participants were also exposed to Public Financial Management (PFM) cycle, the State Budget Manual and LGA Budgetary Process.
