By Aliyu Dangida
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) unveiled its 2020 and 2021 Accountability Index (ICAN-AI) Reports which showed that Jigawa State rated first among 36 States and the Federal Government of Nigeria with a total score of 74.3 percent.
Similarly, the State maintained its position as the best State in terms of accountability in the country with a score of 75.1 percent in 2021.
The President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants ICAN Malam Tijjani Musa Isah made this known while presenting the 2020,2021 ICAN Accountability Index (ICAN-AI) Reports at the ICAN office in Lagos.
He said that Kaduna State emerged as the second-best State in terms of accountability in 2020 and 2021 with a score of 73.5 percent in 2020 and 74.7 percent in 2021.
Malam Tijjani Musa revealed that Kaduna State was closely followed by Edo, Niger, Taraba, and Bauchi States, in that order.
Presenting the awards to Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar who was represented by the Jigawa State Auditor General, (Dr) Garba Muhammad Dutse, the President of the Institute described Jigawa State as the role model in terms of Accountability and transparency in administering public finances.
He applauded Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar for the high sense of accountability and transparency deployed in administering the public finances of the State.
“On behalf of the Governing Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), we especially commend your high sense of accountability and transparency which you brought to bear in administering the public finances of Jigawa State.” the President said
He added, “We also congratulate you for leading Jigawa State to rank 1st position in the ICAN Accountability Index for the 2020 and 2021 assessment year. We commend you and your team for an outstanding commitment to the good people of Jigawa State and for your extraordinary performance.
The President said the objective of the report is to provide a holistic, objective, and evidenced-based framework for assessing the performance of public sector entities that support improvement in public governance.
He said it is also to encourage fiscal responsibility and good Public Financial Management (PFM) practices to engender transparency and accountability in Nigeria and also serve as a tool to educate citizens to demand accountability from those charged with public sector governance and support improvement in PFM system Improve the quality of governance in Nigeria.
Responding while receiving the awards, Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar who was represented by the Jigawa State Auditor General (Dr) Garba Muhammad Dutse, dedicated the award to the resilience of Jigawa State indigenes and for their support.
