By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), is set to embark on a nation-wide sensitzation campaign on the need for government employees to imbibe the spirit of transparency, accountability and prudence in the management of public resources.
To this effect, a two-day zonal sensitization workshops themed, “Fiscal Transparency and Sustainable Development at the Sub-Nationals”, will be held in Kano, the North West and Lagos, South West zones of the country from 25-26 October and 1-2 November, 2021 respectively.
The Chairman of FRC, Barr Victor Muruako who announced this at Press Briefing in Abuja on Friday said the core objective of the events is to expand and deepen the frontiers of fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability to the sub-national levels of government in Nigeria.
According to him, “the target is to reach government and citizens at all levels, down to the grassroots in order to enthrone a culture of Fiscal Responsibility, Transparency and Prudence and thereby advance the macro-economic stability and sustainability of our dear nation”.
Murako explained that participants for the workshop holding in Kano will be drawn from state and non-state actors in the North-west geopolitical zone and relevant agencies of the Federal Government.
“Already, we have received confirmations from top government functionaries and targeted participants from government agencies in Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, and the host, Kano State. Likewise from states in the South-west zone, comprising Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and the host, Lagos State.
“We also note with delight, confirmations from the broader civil society, including the media in both zones. I am happy to inform that the faculty for the workshops has been carefully and adequately resourced with eminent experts, scholars, practitioners and advocates on Public Finance Management from across the country.
“These resource persons are already primed to share latest learning, experiences, expertise and perspectives with participants on the theme of the workshops. Indeed, I am also happy to report to you, dear gentlemen of the press, on behalf of the Management and Staff of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), that enthusiasm is high already ahead of the workshops.
“We therefore use this opportunity to assure our participants, guests and dignitaries that arrangements have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free and successful set of events that will contribute significantly to increase in public awareness and citizen engagement on fiscal transparency and public finance management in Nigeria.
The Chairman pointed out that citizen engagement on Public Finance Management is paramount to the Commission “because our enabling law, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, provides in Section 51 that: “A person shall have legal capacity to enforce the provisions of this Act by obtaining prerogative orders or other remedies at the Federal High Court without having to show any special or particular interest.”
According to him, “Section 48 of the Act further provides that “the Federal Government shall ensure that its fiscal and financial affairs are conducted in a transparent manner and accordingly ensure full and timely disclosure and wide publication of all transactions and decisions involving public revenues and expenditures and their implications for its finances.”
He said, “These are potent instruments of the law which citizens and groups can rely on to drive advocacy for reforms and push for adoption of best practices in the public finance management space of our dear country.
“This is why we are hopeful that these two workshops will provide a basis for us to advance this sub-national advocacy to other zones of the country in the months ahead”, he added.
