The Kebbi State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning convened a pivotal three-day training workshop in Sokoto, aimed at bolstering the capacity of government officials in budgetary processes. This proactive measure underscores the state’s commitment to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of its budget planning, execution, and monitoring. The workshop served as a platform for disseminating knowledge, sharing best practices, and fostering a collaborative approach to budget formulation, ultimately striving for a more transparent, accountable, and result-oriented budget aligned with the state’s overarching development objectives.
Dr. Abba Kalgo, the Commissioner for Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, underscored the importance of the training, emphasizing the need for participants’ unwavering commitment and dedication. He stressed the significance of a robust budgetary process in driving sustainable development and achieving the state’s economic goals. The Commissioner’s address set the tone for the workshop, emphasizing the critical role of effective budgeting in resource allocation, project implementation, and overall good governance.
Mrs. Kudirat Shoaib Udiri, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, articulated the training’s core objective: to equip officials with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement efficient strategies for budget planning, coordination, and resource allocation, aligning with the state’s development priorities. She emphasized the critical need for meticulous attention to detail, accurate project naming and costing, and adherence to the National Chart of Accounts to enhance transparency and accountability in budget preparation and execution. Acknowledging past challenges, she urged participants to learn from these experiences and rectify previous errors, ensuring a clean and accurate 2026 budget.
A crucial component of the workshop, Mrs. Udiri highlighted, was the focus on effective monitoring and evaluation as essential tools for tracking budget performance across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). She stressed the link between accurate budgeting and streamlined monitoring, asserting that a well-structured budget simplifies the monitoring process and amplifies its impact. This underscores the ministry’s commitment to not only formulating a robust budget but also ensuring its effective implementation and tracking for optimal resource utilization.
Furthermore, Mrs. Aisha Usman, Special Adviser to the state government on budget matters, reiterated the workshop’s purpose: to equip all MDAs with the skills and knowledge to prepare a comprehensive and accurate budget conforming to global best practices. Her expectation was that all MDAs, armed with the training’s insights, would be able to produce a 2026 budget meeting all required criteria, ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficient resource allocation. This highlights the state’s commitment to achieving international standards in its budgetary processes.
The workshop covered a comprehensive curriculum encompassing key aspects of public financial management and budget preparation. Topics included an introduction to public financial management, budgeting and key budget reforms, common budget errors and standard project description guidelines, revenue forecasting (both recurrent and expenditure), pre-bilateral budget quality review, and monthly expenditure reporting and tracking templates. This broad spectrum of topics aimed to equip participants with a holistic understanding of the budgeting process, from initial planning to monitoring and evaluation. The inclusion of a plenary feedback session further facilitated interactive learning and knowledge sharing among participants. By addressing common errors and providing practical guidelines, the workshop aimed to enhance accuracy and consistency in budgeting practices across all MDAs.
The workshop’s attendees comprised a diverse group of key stakeholders involved in the state’s budget cycle. Directors of Finance, Planning, and Statistics from various MDAs, along with other crucial players in budget preparation and control, participated actively. This inclusive approach facilitated cross-departmental learning and collaboration, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders were equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective budget development and implementation. The workshop is expected to yield a more transparent, accountable, and result-oriented budgeting process aligned with Kebbi State’s developmental aspirations. This collective effort underscores the state’s commitment to improving governance and ensuring efficient utilization of public resources for the benefit of its citizens.
