The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and other stakeholders in the management of government finances are seeking new ideas and strategies to advance the Public Finance Management Reform Initiatives of the Federal Government.
A statement from the Director (Information, Press and Public Relations), Henshaw Ogubike said the move is aimed at addressing possible lapses, strengthening the policies and consolidating the gains of the reform initiatives.
The desire stem from a five-day retreat of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), in Kano declared opened by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. (Mrs.) Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, with the theme, “Role of Auditors in Public Financial Management Reforms”.
The retreat engaged auditors, accountants and other stakeholders in in-depth discussions with the objective of fashioning out ways of reducing infractions in the system, inculcating the right attitude and entrenching accountability and transparency in managing public financial transactions.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. (Mrs) Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed called for prudent management of the available resources through efficient financial management reforms, especially in the face of dwindling revenue profiles.
Represented by Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, the Minister said it was imperative to devise better, more effective and robust administrative mechanism that will reduce, if not eliminate waste and corrupt tendencies.
In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje OFR, who was represented by the State Commissioner of Finance, Shehu Na-Allah Kura, maintained that internal auditors and accountants have crucial role in the successful implementation of the public financial management reforms.
The Accountant General of the Federation, represented by Mohammed Sabo, Director (Funds) in the OAGF, explained that the overall objective of the Retreat was to promote accountability and transparency in all facets of the country’s public finance management structure.
The retreat which draws participants from all MDAs in the country, featured paper presentations and deliberations on diverse issues relating to accountability and transparency in the management of public finances.