BASG Partners USAID-State2State On Effective Public Financial Management In Governance

By Bashir Hassan Abubakar

A three day high level capacity training workshop organised by the office of the Bauchi State Head of Service (HoS) in collaboration with USAID’s Nigeria State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity has commenced on Tuesday in Jos, the Plateau State Capital.

In a keynote address by the Bauchi State head of service, Mallam Yahuza Adamu Haruna, he thanked USAID State 2 State Activity for collaborating with his office in facilitating the workshop.

He reiterated the commitment of his office towards entrenching public financial management in the Bauchi State Civil Service pointing that, “it is also an avenue to ensure good governance in the affairs of Government”.

While commending USAID State2State activity in Bauchi State, the HoS added, “like the proverbial Oliver Twist, the state civil service will be needing more of such trainings, so that we could be better equip in implementing physical responsibility and public procurement acts, which is one of the cornerstone of the current administration of His Excellency Governor Bala Mohammed”.

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Also speaking, the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government (SSG) Barrister Ibrahim Mohammed Kashim said that the huge turn out of the participants for the workshop was a clear demonstration of the political will on the part of the state to change the narrative in respect to public financial management in the affairs of government.

The SSG, who was represented by the state commissioner for Budget and Planning Aminu Hammayo said the state government is determined to excel in it’s financial management, boost internal revenue and mitigate lickages.

He said that he hoped the outcome of workshop will come up with a sound, realistic and robust measures to address such gaps and pave the way for more meaningful development.

“The caliber of participants here is a clear attestation of the current administration’s drive for good governance. The HoS, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Directors are all here in Jos attending this workshop. That tells us the seriousness with which His Excellency Governor Bala Mohammed attaches to it by giving approval for the high caliber members of the state executive council to leave Bauchi and attend the workshop in the neighbouring Plateau State”, said the representative of the SSG.

In a short remark, the Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP) of USAID State2State Mr. John Onyeukwu, while welcoming the participants, he expressed his delight on the high turn out of the high caliber participants.

He implored them to participate actively and contribute to the all the presentations that would be made, which he said were baseline assessments of the status of Bauchi State with regard to public financial management in governance.

“One of the possible outcomes of the workshop will be a better understanding of the principles and practices of public financial management.

“The workshop will also expose participants to appreciate the role of good leadership in accountable, transparent and efficient PFM”, said Onyeukwu .

Our correspondent also gathered that participants will also review reform actions to be implemented by Bauchi State, with a view to address challenges and weaknesses identified in the public financial management assessment.

It is expected that a communique will be issued at the end of the workshop, which attracted high level quality participants.