FRC Advises Civil Society Groups To Tap Into Data For Better Accountability Advocacy

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has urged various civil society groups and other organizations to exploit the abundant data provided by the Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP) and the State’s Fiscal Transparency and Sustainability Program (SFTAS) to further enhance advocacy for accountability and prudence.

By utilizing this data, FRC believes civil society groups can promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in public financial management.

The FRC believed that this collaboration would strengthen the fight against corruption and ensure prudent management of public resources.

The Executive Chairman of the Commission, Chief Victor Muruako made the appeal in Owerri while addressing the opening ceremony of a three-day South-East zonal retreat on Fiscal Responsibility of sub-nations and Civil Society Organizations which ended on Thursday.

Muruako stated that the effectiveness of the Civil Society Organizations in utilizing the available data was very critical in making the governments perform as expected.

“It is essential for CSOs to play a more active role in advocating transparency, Accountability, and prudent management,” the Chairman said.

Muruako reminded Nigerians that the Fiscal Responsibility Act empowered them with the legal capacity to enforce the provisions of the Act through the Courts.

He, however, cautioned the citizens to exercise the power responsibly and based on evidence, rather than anecdotes.

While enjoining the academia to process the fiscal data freely for public use, the Chairman suggested for postgraduate research projects of social science students and other faculties in the higher education institutions in the Southeast to intentionally focus on the linkages between transparency,

On accountability, prudence and economic development, Muruako explained that the Commission had mapped out various strategies to ensure that the states in the federation improved their adoption of good practice fiscal behaviors that were consistent with those at the federal level.

According to him, such strategies had led to “The establishment of fiscal responsibility legislation in Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo states to mirror that of the Federal Government, while all the five states of the Southeast now have their year 2023 Annual Financial statements published Online.”

He commended the Imo State government for graciously hosting the Southeast sensitization programme with the theme; ‘Fostering Fiscal Accountability :Sub Nationals and Civil Society collaboration.’