By Mansur Danjuma Sanchi
The Sokoto State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, USAID Nigeria State Accountability, Transparency, and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity Stakeholders from different Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as Civil Society Organizations, are drawing up a 2025 State-level Work plan for the final year of State2State implementation in Sokoto State.. The state-level work plan workshop was conducted on July 23 – 25, 2024 following a National Workshop conducted in AkwaI bom earlier in July.
In his address, the State Director of Budget and Economic Planning Alhaji Buhari Umar said the 3-day workshop was organized by the State Government with support from the USAID Nigeria State2State to develop a comprehensive 2025 Work plan for the State.
Alhaji Buhari who is also the Secretary, of the Sokoto State Transformation Committee called on participants to work as a team in coming up with realistic issues that will lift the state in its current position of Public Financial Management also assured the State Government's readiness to sustain all activities supported by USAID even after the project expiration in Sokoto State.
The Director also thanked the NGO for supporting the State in reviewing some of its policies and financial guidelines as well as building numerous Stakeholders' capacity in Public Financial Management.
He however informed the NGO that their capacity-building support put the state in the parameter of those states that contextualized their State budget with that of the National Chart of Account.
Also Speaking, the USAID State2State Deputy Chief of Party, Mr. Stanley Achonu said the workshop brought relevant Stakeholders, Civil Society Organization Leaders to develop the fifth-year programme activities for continued support to the State and ensure its sustainability even after the project expiration.
Mr Stanley said the State2State project already spent four years in Sokoto and expected to roundup in 2025 explaining that they have supported several institutions in Public Financial Management, engaged citizens in Conflict Litigations, and tackled issues related to Gender and Social inclusions.
Mr Stanley said State2State is leveraging efforts to ensure the sustainability of the reforms that have been achieved while calling on the State transformation committee to advise the Government on the relevant steps that need to be taken in that regard.
He noted that a lot of reforms have been made in budget processing, citizens participation, and procurement hoping that the state will sustain them and improve on the progress made so far.
Mr Stanley acknowledged the Sokoto State Government's tremendous progress in publishing the required budget document on time despite minimal technical support while calling them to improve on the procurement and adhere to its rules.
He also applauds their remarkable progress on gender and social inclusion among many others.
A 3-day workshop featured presentations, group work, and knowledge-sharing sessions to draw inputs into the Year 5 Workplan.
The workshop had in attendance state officials from the Ministries of Budget, Finance, Health, Education, Information, Water Resources, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, State House of Assembly, Internal Revenue Service, CSOs, and OGP representatives.
Others include USAID State2State Staff in attendance include the Team Lead, Sokoto, Dr. Abdulkadir Aminu Ladan, the Public Financial Management Specialist, Mr. Kenny Oleru, CE/CB Consultant, Mr. Stephen John and Communication Specialist, Mr. Israel Onu Odiba among Others.
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