The Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Plateau State on Budget, Hon Obadiah Afwanks has urged the State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on collaboration to achieve budget revenue high performance this year.
The Special Adviser was speaking at the 2nd capacity strengthening for members of the State Account Allocation Committee (SAAC) which was held in Jos.
The engagement training which had members from the 3 arms of government in attendance was meant to strengthen the budgeting process of the state to align with best practices and standards.
The training with the theme ” 2025 Budget; Closing the gaps and upscaling Performance for credible outcomes” highlighted the Budgeting gaps and the opportunities available to expand the Revenue base of the state
The Special Adviser who was the facilitator, opined that gone were the days where MDAs would work in silos or independent of others. He said for the state to achieve its Revenue target of #5bn a month in 2025, MDAs must be seen working in close synergy and collaboration in exploring available options for the good of the state.
He encouraged all MDAs to think outside the box to explore other frontiers to enhance the revenue based of the state.
Also, he encouraged that focus should be paid to grants, public private partnership (PPP), cost savings, revolving schemes, support to revenue generating MDAs etc, noting that loans are financial burdens especially with interest charge, growing inflation and exchange rate differential.
Afwanks, advised that going forward Plateau State should migrate from depending largely on FAAC and Foreign assistant by deepening internally generated revenue to fund personnel cost and others. Again, he decried the unethical practices where MDAs generate funds and spend at source without remitting to the state treasury single account TSA before retention is extracted.
On his part, the Chairman Plateau State Independent Revenue Service (PSIRS) Dr. Jim Pam Wayas disclosed that the State IGR has improved and a robust plan is being put in place to make collection seamless. He clarified that MDAs % retention transfer is now seamless.
The Commissioner of Finance and stakeholders at the meeting encouraged the public to reciprocate the good intention of the Time is now administration of Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang by fulfilling their obligations and supporting the system as the government is poised to given citizens value for money and quality of life.