By Khalid Idris Doya Bauchi State has been recognized as one of the top five states in Nigeria in the 2024 Subnational Audit E...
By Khalid Idris Doya
Bauchi State has been recognized as one of the top five states in Nigeria in the 2024 Subnational Audit Efficacy (SAE) Index Report by the Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI).
The report ranked Osun, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti, and Yobe as the best-performing states, with Yobe State receiving the SAE Index 2024 Championship Award.
The announcement was made during the official launch of the SAE Index 2024 Report, themed “Strengthening Accountability Measures Through Technology for Resilient and Sustainable Subnational Development in Nigeria.” The event, organized by PLSI, took place in Abuja on Thursday.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, emphasized the urgent need for subnational governments to institutionalize global best practices in financial management to enhance accountability and curb mismanagement.
Represented by ICPC Deputy Director Mr. Okor Odey, Dr. Aliyu commended PLSI for its commitment to promoting transparency through the SAE Index, noting that such initiatives strengthen the fight against corruption. He reaffirmed the ICPC’s commitment to working closely with civil society organizations like PLSI to foster transparency, accountability, and good governance across Nigeria.
The ICPC Chairman also stressed the importance of strengthening legal frameworks governing audit processes to ensure state audit institutions operate independently and effectively. Additionally, he urged state governments to prioritize digital transformation in financial management systems to enable real-time auditing and automatic detection of financial anomalies.
Speaking at the event, PLSI’s Founder and Executive Director, Olusegun Elemo, highlighted the critical role of technology in strengthening accountability mechanisms. He called for collective efforts to promote fiscal responsibility and sustainable development at the subnational level.
A key highlight of the event was the recognition of states that demonstrated transparency by publishing their SAE Index 2023 reports. The honored states included Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Kaduna, Oyo, Katsina, Benue, Bauchi, Ondo, and Edo.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the SAE Index 2024 Report, which provided key insights and recommendations aimed at enhancing subnational financial accountability.
Dignitaries at the event included the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamsedden Babatunde Ogunjimi (represented by Mr. Daniel O.), the Auditor General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, and the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu (represented by Alhaji Ishiaka Mustapha).
Also in attendance were the Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, represented by Hon. Bulama Bukar, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, along with Auditors-General from several states including Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Katsina, Osun, Jigawa, Benue, and Edo.
The event underscored Nigeria’s growing commitment to improving audit practices and ensuring financial integrity at the subnational level, as highlighted in a statement signed by Demola Bakare, Director of Public Enlightenment and Education/Spokesperson for the Commission, and made available to journalists on Friday.
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