FRC, NIPSS Applaud MDAs at Fiscal Transparency Training, Push for Stronger Compliance

Maryam Aminu

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), in partnership with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and ThinkBig Consulting Limited, has wrapped up a high-level training program aimed at strengthening fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The week-long programme, themed “Strategies for Increased Fiscal Efficiency, Enhanced Government Revenue and Plugging Leakages in Nigerian Financial System,” brought together participants from across MDAs to explore reforms for improved financial management.

Speaking at the closing session, FRC Chairman, Victor Muruako, Esq., represented by his Special Adviser, Dr. Chris Uwadoka, commended the quality of engagement during the training, describing it as “high-impact and insightful.”

He urged MDAs to begin early preparations for annual audited financial statements and adhere strictly to the Commission’s remittance templates for Operating Surplus, stressing the need to entrench a culture of financial prudence.

Dr. Solomon Titus Gushibet, Senior Fellow and Operating Officer at the Centre for Financial Economics, NIPSS, who coordinated the training, said participants displayed exemplary commitment.

He confirmed that all attendees met the requirements for certification, noting that the nine thematic areas covered will aid reforms in public finance management.

Delivering the closing remarks on behalf of the NIPSS Director-General, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, Prof. Jane Omotayo Aane underscored the importance of strengthening public procurement processes. She decried cases of MDAs failing to meet contractual obligations, which she described as “an abuse of office,” and called on the FRC to step up oversight in procurement matters.

She assured participants of NIPSS’s continued partnership in building institutional reforms while urging them to implement the knowledge gained.

The training, observers noted, represents a critical step in advancing Nigeria’s fiscal responsibility framework, particularly at a time when the country is grappling with economic challenges.