The Lead Consultant for United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) for Abia State on programme based Budgeting Workshop, Prof Frances Obafemi, has described the Otti’s government as very transparent in its budgetary system.
The Workshop is being sponsored by the European Union (EU) with UNICEF as its facilitator.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Umuahia during a 5-day workshop on “Supporting Sustainable Social Protection System in Nigeria” organized by the EU and UNICEF, Prof Obafemi, stated that the government has “continued to operate a transparent budgetary system and is also willing to improve on its transparency”.
“It is supporting the EU and UNICEF to realize a formidable budgeting system in the state. The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Kingsley Anosike’s passion in making sure budgeting is transparent shows they’re willing to improve on their transparency”, Professor Obafemi declared.
“Before now budgeting has been an online ministry basis, but we’re changing, making budgeting programmes and activities move further. And in order to do that, there’s a need to build the capacity of relevant MDAs in the various states.
“So, what UNICEF is doing in Abia, sponsored by the EU , is to improve the capacity of the personnel of the relevant ministries in preparing a programme based budget. And in doing this, we have various steps, first is to teach them how to prepare medium term expenditure which has been done in Aba in September 2025.
“The second leg is to prepare the process of medium term sectoral strategy. So, what we have here in Umuahia are the four focal sectors namely: Health, Education, Poverty and Social Protection and Planning Ministries.
“Though the Abia State government is very enthusiastic in ensuring transparency in its budgeting system, our focus is on these sectors. So, we’re here in Umuahia on the workshop on sectoral strategy that would lead us to the preparation of the budget”, she declared.
The professor of Economics from the University of Calabar, Cross River State, commended Governor Otti and the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Anosike for their doggedness in ensuring the enthronement of transparent budgeting in the state financial system and described their passion as laudable.
On his part, the Social Policy Officer of UNICEF at the Enugu office, Dr Victor Chima said Abia has assisted the EU and UNICEF to ensure transparency in budgeting.
He explained that the workshop was being funded by the EU through UNICEF to ensure that budgets are adequately and properly done based on the priority and vision of the state.
“Before now, states would budget based on needs, but UNICEF came in to strengthen the social protection system, pointing out the programme which starts from 2025 to 2027, would ensure accountability and transparency in the budgetary system of the state.
This, he explained, is being done in about 10 states across the Federation, and that Abia has been remarkable.
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