Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state; has said that ‘transparency and accountability’ be sustained to achieve due process and governance for value.
Buni made the pledges on accountability, yesterday (Wednesday), in Damaturu, when the award of State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) performances was presented by the Federal Government.
The federal government, represented by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed commended the State Governments for their performances on the ongoing SFTAS programme across the country.
According to her, the transparency and accountability initiatives are however producing positive results on money for value to improve the living conditions of people.
“We’re delighted that the $1.5 billion (N669 billion) SFTAS programme supported by the World Bank has promoted institutionalization of fiscal reforms in the 26 states,” she said.
She noted that the Federal Government is celebrating the success of the SFTAS programme and the presentation of the awards to best performing states.
Zainab explained that the successive Annual Performance Assessments (APA) was to spur the states to do more and account to the people.
The Governor said his administration would continue to promote transparency and accountability in governance to have value from all expenditures.
“We are a State with low internal revenues and in dire need of infrastructural facilities and services,” he said.
He added that the state government has to use its resources judiciously and transparently to achieve the set targets and improve the people’s lives.
He also applauded the civil servants who believe and share the vision and mission of the State government.
According to him, the workers are consistently implementing government policies and programmes to achieve economic growth and development in the various sectors.
“Yobe state was presented with the top performer overall best state among the 36 states in the federation,” said Mala at the award dinner presentation to the 36 state Governors last week.
Continued; “Our performance in All Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) scored the overall best state for the top performer award.”
The DLIs indicators of SFTAS include citizen-based budgets, timely preparation and the publication of annual budgets and audited financial statements, as well as the adoption of the National Chart of Account.
Meanwhile, the Director- General, Yobe state Bureau for Public Procurement, Samaila Mai Adamu, has attributed the rating of the state as the overall best performing state by SFTAS.
He noted that the unquantified credit goes to the leadership role of Buni on due process and accountability to the people.
“We insist that every project executed by this administration must be monitored by the Bureau,” he said, noting that this will ensure transparency and accountability to the public.
He said the SFTAS award is a confirmation of the APPPN award that the state has now assumed a leading status on accountability and transparency.
