ANTI-CORRUPTION: In a new report about accountability and fiscal transparency, a Southwestern state has ranked number one, above others in the state`s management of government finances, Clariform has learnt.
Clariform reports that in the area of Public Finance/Accountability, Osun State under Governor Adegboyega Oyetola administration, currently lead all other states in Nigeria.
Osun State was ranked first with 88% in a new financial accountability report titled Subnational Audit Efficacy Index with the theme: Leveraging Accountability for Subnational Development in Nigeria.
The fiscal transparency report was jointly produced by the Nigerian federal government and an international organization – the PLS initiative.
This is a significant improvement over the State’s previous ranking, which had the state at position 25 with 40%.
The state was praised for operationalizing the Auditor General for State’s financial autonomy so that the state can conduct financial, compliance, and performance audits for each fiscal year.
The State of Osun Audit Law 2019 was described in the study as the primary bill guiding the public audit function in the State. The report also applauded Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s dedication to financial openness by applauding his signature of the law.
It further states that attaining public accountability relies on the financial and operational independence of Supreme Audit Institutions, particularly at the subnational level.
Bola Oyebamiji, the state’s commissioner for finance, responded by noting that financial openness has always been Governor Oyetola’s motto and that he is not shocked by the survey putting Osun as the most financially transparent State in the Federation.
He asserted that the Governor made a deal with the state’s citizens to always act responsibly and transparently while handling any funds that belong to the state.
This news bit was reported by Franklyn Latunji and edited by Shaun Eugene for Clariform. For enquiries email editor@clariform.com
