The Fiscal Responsibility Commission has expressed its readiness to partner with BudgiT to enhance transparency in Nigeria’s capital budget implementation.
The Executive Chairman of the commission, Victor Muruako, said this while receiving a BudgIT delegation on a courtesy visit in Abuja on Wednesday.
The delegation formally presented the finalised copy of its Capital Projects Monitoring Manual to the commission.
The copy is a Practical Guide and Framework for Tracking National and Subnational Projects in Nigeria.
Mr Muruako said the meeting served as a platform to discuss key public finance management policy recommendations and explore areas of alignment and collaboration between both organisations.
He emphasised FRC’s ongoing efforts to promote fiscal discipline and transparency, particularly through public sensitisation campaigns targeting Nigerian youths and National Youth Service Corps members.
“As part of our mandate under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, we are engaging the youth to raise awareness about fiscal governance,” he said.
The chairman said the commission advocated for more capacity-building initiatives internally. He said the FRC had embarked on several workshops on data visualisation and infographics.
According to him, infographics are now one of the most effective ways to communicate information quickly and clearly through digital platforms.
The leader of the BudgIT delegation and stakeholder manager, Andrew Oaikhena, said that the purpose of the visit was the official presentation of the policy manual.
Mr Oaikhena said BudgiT was a civil society organisation promoting public finance transparency and accountability.
“We are also here to discuss challenges ministries, departments, and agencies face in preparing and executing capital budgets. The BudgIT is collaborating with anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
“The commencement of this collaboration with FRC aims to ensure that only appropriate items are included in capital budgets,” he said.
Mr Oaikhena expressed optimism about the potential impact of the partnership.
He said that the copy of the monitoring policy manual marked a significant step toward institutional synergy in the fight against corruption and the promotion of fiscal responsibility in Nigeria.
(NAN)
