Kebbi govt hosts strategic budget training to strengthen planning, accountability

In an effort to enhance the effectiveness and transparency of its budgeting process, the Kebbi State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has organised a high-level, three-day capacity-building workshop for key government officials.

The workshop, held at Dankani Hotel in Sokoto, was declared open by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Abba Kalgo, who urged participants to demonstrate commitment and dedication throughout the sessions.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Kudirat Shoaib Udiri, explained that the training was designed to promote effective budget planning, coordination, and resource allocation in alignment with the state’s development goals.

“This training ensures that our budgeting process is built on a foundation of strategic planning, accurate coordination, and efficient allocation of resources,” she stated. “We are also addressing past challenges and adopting the National Chart of Accounts to drive transparency and accountability.”

Mrs Udiri emphasised the importance of precision in project naming and costing. “If there were errors in previous years, this is the opportunity to correct them,” she added. She also noted that improved monitoring and evaluation would be prioritised, making oversight of budget implementation more efficient and impactful.

In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the State Government on Budget Matters, Mrs Aisha Usman, underscored the importance of the workshop in ensuring all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are equipped to develop budgets that meet global standards.

“The aim is to get every MDA involved and aligned with best practices. By the end of this training, I expect every agency to be capable of producing a robust 2026 budget that meets all required criteria,” she said.

Workshop topics included: an introduction to public financial management, budgeting and key reforms, common budgetary errors, standardised project descriptions, revenue forecasting (recurrent and capital), pre-bilateral budget reviews, and monthly expenditure reporting and tracking templates.

Participants included Directors of Finance, Planning, and Statistics from various MDAs who play pivotal roles in the state’s budget formulation and oversight.

The training is expected to deliver a more transparent, accountable, and results-driven budgeting process that supports Kebbi State’s long-term development agenda.

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