In what officials described as a result of reforms by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to promote transparency and accountability and prudent management of resources, Edo State has bagged World Bank’s Public Expenditure Efficiency, and Fiscal Transparency and Accountability Awards.
The State received the two awards at the Federal Government of Nigeria/World Bank States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Awards, held recently.
The SFTAS programme is a World Bank-backed award that encourages and motivates Nigerian states towards the improvement of their Public Finance Management systems, processes and institutions aimed at strengthening fiscal transparency to help build trust in government, facilitate accountability in public resource management and ensure sustainability in the participating states.
Reacting to the awards, the Edo State Accountant General, Mr. Julius Osemen Anelu, said the award is in recognition of the government’s commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, ensuring policies to facilitate economic growth and development, improving public service, and create a conducive environment for investment and job creation.
According to him, “The Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has in the past six years pursued reforms and programmes to promote good governance, transparency accountability, due process, rule of law and sustainable development, and this award is a recognition of the progress we have made in achieving this goal.”
He added, “The State under the leadership of His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has signed the Public Financial Management and Fiscal Responsibility Law and the state government has subscribed fully to the Open Governance Partnership Principles, putting in place a fiscal policy and management system that guarantees the efficient and prudent use of public resources to better the lives of the majority of the Edo people.“We are further emboldened by this recognition to do more for the people, ensuring the sustainability of the government’s reforms and programmes across economy, education, technology, and healthcare, among other sectors of the state, aimed at placing the state on the path of sustainable economic growth and development.”
