A REPORT published by BudgIT, a civil society organisation, has ranked Oyo, Bayelsa and Nasarawa as the least performing states regarding fiscal transparency in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The three states scored 69, 73 and 75, respectively.
Ekiti, Kaduna, Adamawa, Benue, Ebonyi, and Edo were dubbed progressive performers with 100, 100, 98, 97, 97, 97, respectively.
No state scored below 40 per cent. BudgIT noted that this spells progress for fiscal transparency among Nigeian states.
To arrive at this conclusion, BudgIt scrutinised the approved budgets, the accountant-general’s report or financial statement, the e-procurement portal, the websites with fiscal repository, and the audit and financial reports of states while considering their timeliness, availability, and comprehensiveness.
Fiscal transparency is the open and comprehensive reporting of a government’s financial activities, ensuring accountability and public scrutiny.
It entails how governments raise, spend, and manage public resources, covering all public assets, liabilities, and contingent obligations.
According to the CSO, Oyo’s performance reflected strengths and critical gaps in the state’s fiscal management practices.
“While the state performed well in publishing its approved budget and quarterly budget implementation reports, its medium-term expenditure framework was hindered by issues of timeliness and completeness,” the report read in part.
“The audit report also requires improvement to offer a more comprehensive view of financial operations, and the complete absence of the accountant-general’s report in the period under review further limits transparency.”
It further noted that Oyo State should focus on the timely and complete publication of its medium-term expenditure framework and audited financial statements, ensure the consistent release of the accountant general’s report, and upgrade its e-procurement platform to offer comprehensive, real-time information.
For Bayelsa, BudgIt noted that the state’s medium-term expenditure framework did not fully meet expectations, and its audit and accountant-general’s reports must be timely.
It also advised Bayelsa to prioritise the complete and timely publication of reports, restore and modernise its e-procurement platform, and ensure its fiscal data repository is accessible and well-maintained.
According to BudgIt, Nasarawa, ranked 34th, performed well in quarterly budget implementation reporting. However, the absence of the medium-term expenditure framework and the audited financial statements, in the period under review, raises concerns about long-term fiscal planning and accountability.
It further noted that the approved budget lacked details on total expenditure by administrative function and capital projects, and the accountant-general’s report had slight delays. In contrast, the e-procurement portal lacked 2024 data.
“To enhance fiscal transparency, Nasarawa State should prioritize the timely publication of audited financial statementss with clear recommendations, ensure the budget document includes detailed expenditure breakdowns, improve reporting speed from the accountant-general’s office, and regularly update the e-procurement portal with current data to enhance accountability and public trust.”