Bauchi organises sensitisation workshop on Zero-Based Budget preparation

Stakeholders in the budget implementation sector have been tasked to accord Bauchi state government the necessary support in the implementation of the Zero-Based Budgeting in the state.

The call was made by the Bauchi State Commissioner of Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Aminu Hassan Gamawa at the opening of a 2 days sensitisation workshop for officers of budget preparation in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the state held at Zaranda Hotel Bauchi on Monday.

Aminu Gamawa said that with their support and cooperation, the state government will ensure effective implementation of the Zero-Based Budgeting in order to achieve the desired objectives.

He said that “The present government of His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed is quite aware of the previous bogus budgets which contain a lot of unrealistic and unimplemented items, that usually culminates into poor performance. This is a trend which the present government is out to discard and adopt a Zero-Based Budgeting that is more concise, precise, cost-effective and realistic.”

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The Commissioner added that ” It is my ardent hope that you will use this golden sensitisation workshop to listen and discuss exhaustively with the view of fruitful and meaningful understanding on Zero Based Budgeting for adoption and implementation by the government.”

The Commissioner however cautioned the participants being the principal officers in the implementation of budget in their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies that henceforth any project outside the approved budget without any genuine reason will not be considered.

He also said that already, the Ministry is currently conducting a vote book inspection (VBI) with a view to update financial records and identify such excesses for transparency, accountability and reporting to the government for possible policy actions and feedback.

Aminu Gamawa further said that the sensitisation will among others, assist towards ensuring prudent management of the scarce resources and compliance with the provision of public financial management regulations in conformity with international best practices.

To this end, the Budget and Economic Planning Commissioner said that part of the government’s efforts to ensure compliance with financial regulations is the Zero-Based Budgeting which will eventually boost performance and attract and qualify the state to get more support from the World Bank State Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability.

” As you are quite aware, a budget is an important tool and mechanism in which government at all levels, on a yearly basis, sit and come up with a comprehensive ways, procedures and strategies for generating funds as well as the ways for expending them on both economic, social, political and other spheres, all with the view of improving the living condition of our people.”

In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Yahuza Adamu Ningi expressed confidence that the outcome of the workshop will enhance the capacity of the participants on basic budgetary process.