In a move to strengthen fiscal responsibility, Niger State’s legislative body has approved stringent measures against local government councils found mismanaging revenue streams. The State House of Assembly unanimously adopted recommendations from its Public Accounts Committee, signaling a push to curb irregularities in the remittance of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and enhance accountability in governance.
During a plenary session, lawmakers emphasized the need for stricter oversight, with Hon. Aliyu Sheshi Wushishi presenting the committee’s findings on behalf of Chairman Hon. Andrew Doma, the Minority Leader representing Shiroro Constituency. The report outlined persistent gaps in revenue management across local councils, including delayed submissions of financial records and improper handling of collected funds.
Key proposals include imposing penalties on accounting officers who fail to meet reporting deadlines and launching investigations into revenue collection practices to identify discrepancies. The committee further urged comprehensive training programs for officials in public financial management, stressing alignment with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) to bolster transparency. “These steps aim to address systemic issues and ensure resources serve public interests effectively,” Wushishi stated.
Speaker Abdulmalik Mohammed Sarkin-Daji praised the committee’s work, directing the assembly’s clerk to formalize the adopted recommendations for implementation. The resolution reflects growing efforts to combat financial mismanagement in Nigeria’s subnational governance structures, where weak oversight often hampers development.
By prioritizing accountability and institutional capacity-building, the move aligns with broader calls for sustainable fiscal practices in resource-constrained regions. Analysts note that effective enforcement of such measures could restore public trust and channel revenue toward critical services.
