The ranking by BudgIT Foundation, a socio-accountability platform, showed that out of the 36 states of the federation, Sokoto state in the Third Quarter (Q3) of 2024, came last (36th position) with 39% score while Nasarawa and Gombe states ranked 35th and 34th positions with 58% score respectively.
Amid high poverty profile and ravaging insecurity by bandits and other terrorist groups, Sokoto, Nasarawa and Gombe states have been ranked the worst states on States Fiscal Transparency League table.
The ranking by BudgIT Foundation, a socio-accountability platform, showed that out of the 36 states of the federation, Sokoto state in the Third Quarter (Q3) of 2024, came last (36th position) with 39% score while Nasarawa and Gombe states ranked 35th and 34th positions with 58% score respectively.
The States Fiscal Transparency League (SFTL) is a quarterly assessment that tracks how well Nigerian states maintain fiscal transparency, accountability, and public finance management.
The SFTL is an initiative by The Budgit Foundation that aims to continue the World Bank's States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme.
The World Bank's SFTAS program aims to improve the fiscal transparency, accountability, and sustainability of Nigerian states.
The SFTL assesses states based on availability and completeness of fiscal documents, functionality of state websites and e-procurement portals, and timeliness of publications.
BudgIT said, “The States Fiscal Transparency League initiative aims to sustain the gains of the World Bank's SFTAS by tracking how well States continue to maintain fiscal transparency, accountability, accessibility and effective public finance management even after the stipends have dried up.”
According to the ranking table, Sokoto state scored zero on audit report, accountant-general’s report and e-procurement portal and eight (8) on state website with fiscal data.
Nasarawa state scored zero on audit report, 14 on accountant-general’s report, five (5) on e-procurement portal and 10 on state website with fiscal data, while Gombe state scored 16 on audit report, zero on accountant-general’s report, zero on e-procurement portal and 12 on state website with fiscal data.
Meanwhile, Ekiti and Ebonyi states scored 98% and 97% respectively to emerge first and second positions on the 2024 Q3 States Fiscal Transparency League table.
This is despite the fact that Sokoto and Gombe states in particular have continued to be ranked among the top five poorest states in Nigeria, according to the National Bureau of Statistics report in 2022, which is the latest report on Nigerian states poverty index, with Sokoto state maintaining first position as the poorest state in the country.
Also, the three states, Sokoto, Gombe and Nasarawa are also among the states mostly ravaged by the deadly activities of bandits and other terrorist groups, including the new Lakurawa terrorist group currently attacking and killing citizens in several communities in Sokoto state.
Meanwhile, in August 2024, SaharaReporters reported that its analysis of budget performance documents revealed that the Sokoto state government allocated a staggering N15.520 billion for the purchase of vehicles for various officials.
They comprise House of Assembly members, executive council members and special advisers.
A breakdown of the budget showed that N3.1 billion was earmarked for 30 vehicles for House of Assembly members and management staff, N460 million was budgeted for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker's fleet while N500 million was allocated for 20 vehicles for government functionaries.
An additional amount was budgeted for vehicles for Executive Council members and special advisers, bringing the total to N15.520 billion.
Furthermore, the budget allocated N8.6 billion for the purchase of Toyota Prado SUVs for 30 executive council members, translating to a staggering N289 million per vehicle.
As of the first six months of the year, N4.795 billion had already been expended on acquiring these SUVs, leaving a balance of N3.805 billion.
Additionally, the budget provided for the purchase of 40 Changan vehicles for special advisers, estimated at N2.8 billion. Within the same period, N2.5 billion was spent on this initiative, leaving a remaining balance of N300 million.
In the first half of 2024, a staggering N7.2 billion was expended on vehicles for political appointees, comprising N2.5 billion for the purchase of Changan vehicles for special advisers and N4.795 billion for the acquisition of Toyota Prado SUVs for executive council members.