In a bid to enhance transparency and accountability in governance, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), has called on Civil Society Groups and organizations to utilize data from the Fiscal Sustainable Plan (FSP), and States Fiscal Transparency and Sustainability Program (SFTAS) to advocate for prudence and accountability.
Speaking at a three-day South-East zonal retreat in Owerri, Executive Chairman Chief Victor Muruako emphasized the critical role of Civil Society Organizations in ensuring governments perform as expected. He encouraged them to actively promote transparency, accountability, and prudent management.
Chief Muruako reminded citizens of their legal capacity to enforce the Fiscal Responsibility Act through the courts, urging responsible and evidence-based action. He also encouraged academia to process fiscal data for public use and focus research projects on linkages between transparency, accountability, prudence, and economic development.
The Commission has implemented strategies to improve states’ adoption of good fiscal practices, leading to the establishment of fiscal responsibility legislation in several states. The retreat aimed to foster collaboration between sub-nationals and civil society for enhanced fiscal accountability.
While enjoining the Academia to process the Fiscal data freely for public use, the Chairman suggested for postgraduate research projects of social science students and other Faculties in the Higher Education Institutions in the Southeast to intentionally focus on the linkages between transparency, Accountability, Prudence, and economic development.
Chief Muruako explained that the Commission had mapped out various strategies to ensure that the States of the Federation improved their adoption of good practice Fiscal behaviors that were consistent with those at the federal level.
According to him, such strategies had led to the establishment of Fiscal responsibility legislation in Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo States to mirror that of the Federal Government, while all the five states of the Southeast now have their year 2023 Annual Financial statements published Online.
He commended the Imo State government for graciously hosting the Southeast sensitization program with the theme”Fostering Fiscal Accountability:Sub Nationals and Civil Society Collaboration”.
Declaring the Retreat open, the Imo State Governor, Sen Hope Uzodinma, stressed the need for Accountability and Sustainability in the running of good governance, especially under a democratic dispensation.
The governor, who was represented by the Imo State Commissioner of Finance, Mr Chuck Chukwuemeka, assured that the government would soon establish a Fiscal Responsibility Agency to ensure that the appropriate fiscal laws are fully implemented for the benefit of the masses.
The governor hailed the performance of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission towards enlightening all strata of the Nigerian society, on their roles to enhance sustainable economic development.
In a lead paper presentation, the Federal Commissioner in charge of the National Population Commission in Imo, Prof Uba Nnabue, advised Nigerians not to shy away from asking questions on the spending of public funds.
Nnabue Said that such interest shown by the citizens would further enhance transparency and probity in governance.
Another Speaker, Bar Charles Abana, urged the citizens to uphold their rights and ensure that they obtain appropriate Information on the Fiscal activities of the government through the appropriate laws, including the Freedom of Information Act (FOI).
Participants at the event were drawn from NGOs, CSOs, the Media, and Financial Agencies, among others.