(Governor Dauda Lawal. Photo by Nation News)
Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration is recording measurable impact from its investments in health, education, agriculture and infrastructure across Zamfara State.
The Zamfara State Auditor General, Abubakar Damaligi, disclosed this yesterday during the training of Audit Office staff.
Officials of the Zamfara State Audit Office have been trained on performance audits aimed at ensuring public funds deliver measurable value to citizens.
The training was conducted by the Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) through the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAGF).
The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts by PLSI, the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation, and the Zamfara State Government to institutionalise performance audits and strengthen accountability in public expenditure.
Damaligi said the audit exercise would demonstrate to the public the impact of the state government’s investments in health, education, security and infrastructure under what he described as the “Rescue Governor” administration.
Speaking at the workshop, PLSI Executive Director, Segun Elemo, explained that the programme was designed to address gaps in how citizens experience government spending, noting that performance audit is the only form of audit capable of helping citizens derive real value from government expenditure.
He disclosed that the initiative, which is being supported by the Zamfara State Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal, is aimed at ensuring that audit findings reflect tangible outcomes such as improved school enrolment, reduced maternal mortality and better life expectancy.
He noted that PLSI had previously supported pilot audits in Yobe State, with a focus on education and health, as well as in Delta State, with a focus on the environment.
Also speaking, Deputy Director in the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation, Dr Clement Ojile, explained that of the three main types of audits, financial, compliance and performance, only performance audit directly addresses citizens’ concerns by evaluating impact on their lives.
He said it is not enough for financial accounts to balance, stressing that what matters more is that public funds are spent in ways that genuinely improve the lives of citizens.