By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Towards enhancing budget performance, improve internally generated and provision of social services to citizens in a cost effective manner, a high level quarterly public financial management (PFM) round table meeting has commenced today 17th April, 2023 in Bauchi, the State capital.
The two days round table meeting was organized by the Bauchi State Field office of USAID Nigeria funded State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Intervention holding at Hazibal Hotel Conference Hall Bauchi.
In a welcome address by the State Team Lead (STL) of USAID State2State, Rabi Ekele thanked the high level officers for attending the the meeting personally.
The STL said USAID State2State believes that such meeting will help the State in improving its financial management system that focuses on budget planning, budget transparency, internal control, financial reporting and debt management among others.
Ekele said that the purpose of USAID State2State intervention is majorly to increase accountability, transparency and effectiveness in governance and that the need for continues engagement with key state actors was imperative.
In a brief remarks, the Public Financial Management (PFM) Specialist of USAID State2State Bauchi field office, Mr. Isaac Otabor said one of the objectives of the round table meeting was to review the 2022 budget implementation performance, particularly for primary health care, basic education, and WASH.
Mr. Otabor said the meeting would also provide the opportunity for PFM Institutions and Targeted Sectors in the State to present updates on their respective roles and responsibilities in the management of public resources.
The PFM specialist further said that the meeting was an avenue for non-government organizations to provide feedback and inputs on the citizens’ perception on the utilization of public resources and delivery of public service amongst other objectives the meeting will seek to achieve.
Presentations on 2023 budget and the focus of Bauchi State Government in that direction, and the performance of last year’s budget were presented by Government officials.
Other presentations were made in the areas of IGR trends, challenges and prospects and, debt management of Bauchi State.
The meeting attracted permanent secretaries and directors from relevant ministries and, CEOs of Agencies and Parastatals.
Participants are expected to suggest ways on how to improve IGR of Bauchi State at the end of the round table meeting.