By Princess Funsho Sumanu
The Kogi State Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has sustained its drive for transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources with sensitization and verification visits to the Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Information and Communications, and Environment and Ecological Management.
The exercise forms part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to deepen awareness of the Fiscal Responsibility Law and strengthen compliance with its provisions across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.
Leading the delegation on behalf of the Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Jimoh Muhammed, the Director of Planning and Strategy, Mallam Abubakar Musa, explained that the visit was designed not only to verify compliance with fiscal responsibility requirements but also to sensitize public servants on the existence, provisions and importance of the law.
He described the verification process as a friendly exercise aimed at helping public institutions align their operations with the law and avoid administrative lapses that could arise from ignorance of statutory provisions.
According to him, the Commission, which has been in existence since 2012, has witnessed renewed effectiveness following recent reforms, including the review of the Fiscal Responsibility Law and its assent by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in March this year.
Mallam Musa emphasized the importance of public officers familiarizing themselves with the law, noting that ignorance could expose officials to accountability issues long after they leave office.
He added that the Commission’s mandate includes ensuring prudent management of public resources while supporting institutions to understand and comply with established fiscal guidelines.
At the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Permanent Secretary, Hajia Musa A. Sualihat Bamitale, welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for the Commission’s engagement. She described the visit as timely and beneficial, noting that although awareness of the Commission’s operations had previously been limited, the interaction provided valuable insight into its mandate and activities.
The Permanent Secretary highlighted the ministry’s various departments and responsibilities, particularly its role in revenue generation, investment promotion, cooperative development, industrial growth and support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). She assured the delegation of the ministry’s readiness to work closely with the Commission in advancing good governance and accountability.
Also, at the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Commissioner, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, was represented by Mr. Tijani Awulu, who commended the Commission for embarking on the sensitization exercise.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Commissioner, Awulu, noted that the Commission’s work complements the ministry’s mandate of public enlightenment and information dissemination.
He observed that effective sensitization must begin within the public service before extending to the wider society, describing the Commission’s activities as beneficial to the state and the nation at large.
He further outlined the ministry’s responsibilities, including managing government information, communication and media relations, promoting transparency and citizen engagement, providing policy direction on communication strategies and supervising state-owned media organizations. He also affirmed that agencies under the ministry maintain a functional reporting relationship with the ministry and are regularly monitored to ensure accountability and effective service delivery.
At the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, the Secretary of the Commission, Barrister Ayo Emmanuel, emphasized the importance of possessing and understanding the Fiscal Responsibility Law, stressing that compliance with the law remains the foundation for sound public financial management.
He encouraged officials to actively engage with legal and policy frameworks guiding their operations and assured them that copies of the revised law would be made available to MDAs to facilitate better understanding and implementation.
Barrister Emmanuel reiterated that the central objective of the Fiscal Responsibility Law is to secure the prudent expenditure of public funds and ensure that government spending aligns with established principles of transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline.
Responding on behalf of the Commissioner, Engr. Joseph Stephen, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Haruna Jibo, expressed gratitude to the Commission for what he described as an enlightening engagement.
He noted that the interaction had broadened the ministry’s understanding of its responsibilities under the law and highlighted the importance of strong legal frameworks in enhancing institutional performance.
Mr. Jibo also emphasized the need for ministries to focus on measuring and reporting their own achievements while advocating sustained engagement between the Commission and MDAs to strengthen compliance, identify challenges and improve service delivery.
The visits underscored the Fiscal Responsibility Commission’s commitment to promoting a culture of accountability, transparency and prudent management of public resources across government institutions, in line with the administration’s vision of responsible governance and sustainable development in Kogi State.
