The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has urged Local Government Councils in Anambra State to deepen fiscal discipline and strengthen public finance management practices in order to enhance transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery.
The call was made during a capacity-building workshop on the Local Government Accountability Framework, held at Hilton Leisure Resort, Awka. The event drew senior local government officials including finance and accounts officers planning personnel, development partners, and representatives of key oversight and anti-corruption bodies such as the ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and ROLAC, with IDEA as sponsors. The ICPC Resident Commissioner for Anambra State was also in attendance.
Speaking for the Commission, Ado Hassan, Deputy Director of the Policy and Standards Directorate, stressed the urgent need for councils to embed fiscal responsibility principles across all stages of the budget cycle. He noted that compliance begins with the preparation of a credible Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), followed by annual budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and timely publication of Approved Audited Financial Statements.
Hassan described the MTEF as the “bedrock of credible public financial planning,” emphasizing that strict adherence ensures realistic and strategic budgeting aligned with broader developmental goals.
He added that without transparent implementation and thorough auditing, the true impact of public expenditure cannot be properly assessed.
The Commission warned that strengthening accountability at the local government level remains critical to restoring public trust and ensuring that resources earmarked for community development are used judiciously. With citizens increasingly demanding openness in the use of public funds, the FRC encouraged councils to tighten internal controls, adopt transparent procurement procedures, and improve the quality and credibility of their financial reporting.
Hassan reiterated the Commission’s commitment to supporting sub-national governments through continuous training, provision of guidelines, monitoring tools, and early-warning systems designed to boost compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and national financial management standards.
Participants described the training as timely, noting its importance as local governments prepare for a new fiscal planning cycle. They agreed that improved transparency and accountability would significantly enhance service delivery and deepen collaboration with development partners and civil society organizations.
The workshop covered key topics including MTEF preparation, budget formulation and credibility, cash management, expenditure control, value-for-money procurement, internal audit processes, audited financial statement publication, and citizen participation in oversight.
The FRC maintained that entrenching fiscal responsibility at the grassroots is vital to achieving Nigeria’s broader development aspirations. It reaffirmed its readiness to continue working with state governments, local councils, and oversight institutions to promote sound public financial governance nationwide.
The Awka engagement marks another milestone in the Commission’s sustained nationwide drive to reinforce fiscal discipline and ensure that public resources deliver meaningful benefits to citizens.
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