USAID trains Gombe LG officials on credible, policy-based budgeting

“The training is to foster enhanced transparency, accountability and efficiency in resource allocation,” she said.

News Agency of Nigeria • July 24, 2024

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

The United States Agency for International Development’s

(USAID) State2State has trained 48 officials drawn from 11 local government areas of Gombe State on credible and policy-based budgeting for accountability, transparency and effectiveness.

The participants were the directors of budget and planning and officers from priority areas such as education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) of each LGA.

Speaking at the training in Yola on Wednesday, Zariyatu Hashidu, LG manager, State2State, said the objective of the training was to empower the participants with the knowledge and skills required to develop credible and policy-based budgets

“The training is to foster enhanced transparency, accountability and efficiency in resource allocation and utilisation, ultimately improving service delivery to citizens.

”It will also facilitate the adoption of best practices in budgeting, laying a foundation for sustaining the Public Financial Management (PFM) reform gains of State2State.

“Equip officials with the necessary skills to improve budget formulation, implementation, and monitoring,” she said.

Oluwatosin Oke, a State2State PFM specialist, called on the participants to understand the importance of timely budget preparation.

He said that with the training, they would be able to produce a credible and policy-based budget in line with best practices.

According to him, planning is key to successful budgeting, hence the need for them to plan well to avoid failure.

Abdulkadir Mohammed, Commissioner for Local Government, Gombe State, described the training as timely, especially now with the local government’s financial autonomy.

He explained that it would help in promoting accountability, transparency and effectiveness.

The commissioner, who was represented by Musa Batari, director LG, said, “As we are going through financial autonomy, the training is timely and highly appreciated.”

He urged the participants to pay full attention and acquire skills for effective service delivery.

Babangida Bello, one of the participants, thanked the organisers for the training and assured them that they would put it into good practice.

(NAN)

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