Kogi Government Fiscal Responsibility Commission Verifies Ministry’s Records, Strengthens Transparency, And Accountability ‎

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‎By
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‎Taiye Bayode
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‎As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline, promote transparency and enhance accountability in the management of public resources, the Kogi State Fiscal Responsibility Commission (KG-FRC) has conducted a verification exercise at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to assess the Ministry’s compliance with the provisions of the Kogi State Fiscal Responsibility Law.

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‎The exercise, held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Lokoja, formed part of the Commission’s routine oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), with emphasis on budget implementation, revenue generation, expenditure management and statutory financial reporting.
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‎Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Alh. Muhammed Muktar Shuaibu, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajia Sualihat Musa Amana, welcomed the team and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to maintaining high standards of accountability, transparency and compliance in the discharge of its responsibilities.

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‎She noted that the Ministry would continue to align its financial management processes with extant laws and government policies, while ensuring that public resources entrusted to it are managed responsibly in support of the economic development agenda of the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo-led administration.

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‎Earlier, the verification team on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Mallam Jimoh A. Muhammed, the Commission Secretary, Prince Emmanuel Ayo, said the exercise was designed to ensure compliance with fiscal responsibility standards while encouraging prudent management of government resources across MDAs.
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‎Ayo explained that the Commission’s mandate goes beyond regulatory oversight to supporting public institutions in entrenching transparency, accountability and sound financial management, adding that periodic verification exercises provide opportunities to review records, identify areas requiring improvement and strengthen compliance with established fiscal procedures.
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‎Commending the Ministry for making the required documents available for the exercise and encouraged management to sustain accurate documentation and timely financial reporting as essential components of good governance and responsible public administration, the verification exercise also featured a detailed review of key financial and administrative records, including the Ministry’s nominal roll, approved budget, budget performance reports and internally generated revenue records, with officials providing clarifications and supporting documentation where necessary.
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‎Director of Monitoring and Statistics, Bello Joseph, during the interactive session, also engaged officials of the Ministry on issues relating to budget implementation, expenditure patterns, revenue performance and compliance with fiscal reporting requirements, while Director of Policy and Strategy, Abubakar T. Musa, also made contributions on policy and institutional compliance during the exercise.
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‎The engagement provided both the Commission and the Ministry with an opportunity to exchange professional insights on strengthening fiscal governance, improving financial reporting systems and sustaining accountability in public service.
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‎The verification visit ended with both parties reaffirming their shared commitment to promoting prudent financial management, institutional transparency and effective service delivery in line with the vision of the Kogi State Government for responsible and accountable governance.