Isiyaku Ahmed
Kano State Government, through the Office of the Auditor General (AuG), has commenced a two-day technical session aimed at developing the 2024 Citizens’ Accountability Report (CAR).
The session, which began on Thursday in Kaduna, seeks to advance transparency, citizen engagement, and accountability in the management of public finances.
The CAR, a key reform under the World Bank-supported State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) program, presents simplified summaries of the state’s audited financial statements.
Using graphics and tables, the report makes financial data more accessible and understandable to the public.
In his opening remarks, Kano State Auditor General, Mallam Rabi’u Yusuf, welcomed participants and expressed appreciation to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for supporting the initiative.
He emphasized the importance of the session in ensuring that the 2024 CAR, covering the financial year ending 31st December, is produced on time and in a format that is easily comprehensible.
“Our objective here is to ensure that the Citizens’ Accountability Report becomes a practical tool for transparency and public engagement,” said Mallam Yusuf.
He also disclosed plans to translate the report into Hausa to enhance accessibility for grassroots communities.
The Auditor General encouraged participants to make effective use of the materials and time allocated, assuring them of the government’s full commitment to ensuring the CAR’s accuracy, clarity, and relevance.
Muhammed Yahaya, civil society advocate and Anti-Corruption Thematic Lead of the Kano State Open Government Partnership (OGP), highlighted the significance of the CAR as a reflection of how public funds are generated, allocated, and spent.
He noted that the report helps track citizen-nominated projects and fosters greater accountability in budget execution.
Yahaya called for wider stakeholder engagement during the final presentation of the CAR and recommended corrective actions to address any instances of unaccounted expenditures.
He also commended the Auditor General’s office for its continued efforts in sustaining the CAR process.
Participants at the session included officials from the Auditor General for Local Government Audit, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the Ministry of Planning and Budget, the Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS).
Others are the Ministry for Procurement, Project Monitoring and Evaluation, and the Focal Person on Public Financial Management (PFM) Reforms, Civil Society Organizations, members of the OGP, Directors from the AuG’s Office, and Technical Staff were also in attendance.
The session is expected to produce a validated CAR that strengthens public confidence in government spending and fosters a culture of fiscal openness across the state.
