By George Ozalla
Lawmakers of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, alongside management staff and committee secretaries, have commenced a three-day intensive training on International Public Sector Accounting Standards to strengthen transparency, accountability and credibility in public finance reporting and budget preparation in the state.
The workshop, holding in Makurdi, was organised by the Assembly in collaboration with Fawu Converse Resources. Declaring it open, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Dr. Danladi Jatau, represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Adamu Oyanki, commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for approving the programme and reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting his administration.
He said the engagement was designed to improve the quality of financial reporting, enhance credibility in budget planning and reinforce trust in governance. He added that the Assembly would deploy the knowledge gained to ensure thorough scrutiny of the 2026 budget.
He urged participants to acquaint themselves fully with the standards to achieve the intended improvements in public sector accounting and called on residents of the state to continue supporting the governor’s development agenda.
The Majority Leader, Hon. Suleiman Yakubu Azara, described the training as timely and beneficial to lawmakers and staff, while the Minority Leader, Hon. Luka Iliya Zhekaba, said the programme would equip participants with the required technical insight for improved budgeting.
A resource person, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullateef of the Department of Accounting, Federal University of Lafia, explained in his presentation on IPSAS adoption and legislative oversight that the standards provide a globally recognised framework for preparing public financial statements, improve comparability, enhance fiscal discipline and strengthen resource management. He also highlighted the synergy between IPSAS and legislative oversight, noting that the standards improve the quality of financial reports available to lawmakers for monitoring public spending.
Another presenter, Dr. Mohammed Okpoku of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, spoke on the role of IPSAS in enhancing budget credibility, performance reporting and outcome-based accountability. He said IPSAS principles help align approved budgets with actual expenditure, thereby strengthening transparency and accountability in governance.
Committee chairmen, including Rt. Hon. Abel Yakubu Bala of Education, Hon. Solomon Akwashiki of Public Accounts and Mr. Paul Okugya, Secretary of the Education Committee, expressed appreciation to Governor Sule and Speaker Jatau for approving the workshop. They described it as a timely investment that would significantly improve service delivery and deepen financial management standards across the Assembly.
