Nigeria appoints audit firms to monitor finances of 35 states

The Federal Government has commenced independent review of State financial management by appointing eight reputable accounting firms including KPMG, Ernst & Young and PWC.

The firms are to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the 22-point Fiscal Sustainability Plan which specified the conditions under which 35 State Governments in June 2016 started accessing N510 billion Budget Support Facility, a statement by the finance ministry said Tuesday.

The statement signed by Salisu Danbatta, director of information in the ministry, said while monitoring of the states by the Federal Ministry of Finance had been ongoing since June 2016, independent monitoring and verification of the States against agreed milestones will now commence by the eight accounting firms.

The Budget Support Facility, a 12-month standby loan facility, was designed to bring immediate financial relief to state governments and enable them meet their financial obligations; with a monthly amount of N50 Billion in the first three months and N40 Billion available for the remaining nine months to the 35 States.

The Fiscal Sustainability Plan is a 22-point reform programme which commenced in June, 2016 with requirements including increasing internally generated revenues, introduction of biometric payroll, publication of audited annual financial statements, and reduction of wastages by establishing efficiency units.

The firms carrying out the monitoring are PWC, KPMG, Ernst & Young, PKF, Muhtari Dangana & Co/S.S. Afemikhe & Co, Ahmed Zakari and Co/Ijewere & Co.

While announcing their appointment, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said the firms were “expected to vigorously monitor, evaluate and verify the performance of the States against the agreed milestones set by each State Government under the Fiscal Sustainability Plan.”

State Governments that fail to implement the action plans, as stated, would be taken off the facility with immediate effect.