The launch and signing of the States’ Charter to Sustain Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability Reforms was held successfully on Wednesday, 17th of August 2022.
The launch and signing of the States’ Charter to Sustain Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability Reforms was held successfully on Wednesday, 17th of August 2022.
The State Governors, led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, expressed their appreciation of the efforts by Partners, Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and most importantly, State officials who have worked tirelessly to ensure States progress in their resolve to strengthen the fiscal system and deliver improved fiscal transparency, accountability, and sustainability.
He highlighted during the launch that much is already being sustained beyond SFTAS performance years, with States still publishing their fiscal documents in line with appropriate standards and pursuing the implementation of various laws that have been put in place.
While encouraging everyone to support the broader programme sustainability plan being co-designed by the FMBFNP, NGF, DMO, OGP, World Bank, and the States, the Forum expresses through the Charter, their unwavering commitment to sustainability and willingness to be further accountable to the people.
The Governors emphasized that government is a continuum and solemnly pledged to:
Support and participate in the Annual States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability & Sustainability (SFTAS) assessment and scorecard.
Sustain Public Financial Management (PFM) reforms coordination and implementation mechanisms within the States.
Support the uptake and integration of courses to be offered on the NGF e-Learning Management System (LMS) with States' continuous learning and certification for State Officials.
Support the sustainability of SFTAS-related reforms to - Increase fiscal transparency and accountability; Strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation; Increase efficiency in public expenditure; Improve debt management and strengthen debt sustainability.
Encourage the domestication of similar and relevant reforms in the local government level to strengthen their fiscal transparency, accountability, and sustainability likewise.
Consequently, the NGF in collaboration with the FMFBNP and partners looks forward to deepening the advocacy and implementation of the ideals contained in the Charter.
The Charter is only one of the many activities in the broader SFTAS sustainability plan to be implemented by various partners and agencies on the programme.
Ultimately, sustaining, and deepening reforms’ gains of the programme will require all efforts.
In attendance were the State Governors, Honourable Minister of Finance, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMFBNP) represented by the Permanent Secretary for Finance (Mr. Aliyu Ahmed), Director, Home Finance and National Programme Co-ordinator SFTAS (Mr. Stephen Okon), Deputy Director, Home Finance Department and the Deputy National Programme Coordinator SFTAS (Mr. Ali Mohammed), Director General, Debt Management Office (Ms. Patience Oniha), Director General, Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) Secretariat (Mr. Asishana Bayo Okauru, Esq.), Auditor-General of the Federation represented by Dr. Busayo Fawale, Programme Manager, FMFBNP SFTAS Programme Co-ordination Unit (PCU) (Mrs. Oyindamola Adedokun), Country Director, World Bank, Nigeria (Shubham Chaudhuri).