BudgIT sets the record straight on Sokoto State budget transparency findings

BudgIT, a prominent civic tech organisation promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public finance, has noted recent publications across various media outlets that misrepresented our findings on Sokoto State’s budget and fiscal transparency. While we appreciate the media’s role in fostering dialogue, these reports inaccurately represent our analysis, compelling us to clarify the facts and reaffirm our position.
Our evaluation of Sokoto State’s fiscal transparency was not an attack on Dr Ahmed Aliyu’s government but rather a call for proactive disclosure of budgetary and other financial information as a critical element of good governance. The State Fiscal Transparency League (SFTL) Report, which builds on the World Bank’s State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) Program, is an assessment based on a clear methodology designed to evaluate and encourage proactive financial disclosures by governments. The methodology measures the timeliness, accessibility, comprehensiveness and overall publishing quality of state fiscal data on public websites. Even without BudgIT’s index, citizens can (for themselves) compare the timeliness, accessibility and comprehensiveness of all the federation states. Based on the World Bank SFTAS, the SFTL is a continuation of appropriate public administration stock-taking.
For Q3 2024, the report ranked Sokoto State 36th, indicating significant gaps in its fiscal transparency practices. While the state achieved perfect scores in areas like the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Approved Budget, it faced challenges in revenue reporting, audit transparency, and the e-procurement portal. Such gaps restrict citizens and businesses from accessing critical data that impacts their lives and economic decisions. This data is vital for public transparency, as it is meant to equip citizens, the media and civil society with evidence to ask questions. The non-availability of the data means the government is not upholding its end of the social contract.
Recall that Sokoto State showed commendable progress in fiscal governance, earning three World Bank Awards of Excellence for its exemplary implementation of the SFTAS Program: The state received $22 million in grants from the World Bank between 2019 and 2020. These achievements underscore the potential for transparency reform. However, resting on past laurels is insufficient; this is why the quarterly SFTL analysis by BudgIT is a sustainability measure to uphold the gains of the SFTAS and ensure that even without a financial incentive, the states can be transparent. The serious commitment and attention that several other states routinely demonstrate is a testament to this.
The assertion in the widely circulated media report that Sokoto state does not have the funding and technical capacity to maintain a digital infrastructure is reprehensible. Transparency is a global practice that transcends legal requirements and domestic politics. Governments exist to serve the people, and the people have the right to information about how their government is run, as the people are the ultimate principal.
Specific reports claim that BudgIT ignored Governor Aliyu’s fiscal prudence and that strategic project execution is delusional and unsubstantiated. It is worth noting that just three months ago, in BudgIT’s 2024 Edition of the State of States Report, Sokoto State ranked 23/36 in state fiscal performance, 26/36 in state fiscal viability, 34/36 in state capacity to grow internally generated revenue, 13/36 in state comparative fiscal bandwidth to borrow more, and 20/36 in state prioritisation of investment in capital expenditure compared to their operating expenses. This is to establish that our reports are unbiased, nonpartisan, dispassionate and not targeted to attack any government.
“It is not enough to manage public funds effectively; transparency validates governance and builds lasting trust. Diverting the issue to suggest that the previous administration of Sokoto State was involved in these transparency lapses only distracts from the opportunity before the current government. Governor Aliyu’s administration has a unique chance to lead a transformative agenda by adopting robust transparency practices and setting standards for others to follow,” said Gabriel Okeowo, BudgIT’s Country Director.
“BudgIT takes strong exception to the syndicated positions published in certain national dailies aimed at maligning our integrity. Such unfounded orchestrated narratives seek to distract from fiscal accountability and transparency issues. Our report did not undermine the Sokoto State Government but encouraged it to adopt practices that enhance public participation and proactive disclosure. We are ready to provide any technical support Sokoto State may require to reignite the momentum established by its SFTAS successes. Our commitment is to work with all state governments to ensure that transparency reforms are sustained and citizens remain empowered,” Okeowo emphasised.
The SFTAS Program demonstrated that transparency is achievable with political will, adequate resources, and a commitment to reform. Sokoto State has proven its capacity to lead in the past; this progress cannot regress; thus, the state needs to rise to the occasion once more.