Edo State has secured the top position, tying with Anambra State, in the Q1 2024 Fiscal Transparency League Table released by BudgIT. The ranking placed the two states ahead of 34 others.
According to BudgIT, the evaluation, accessible on its website, assessed the accessibility and depth of essential fiscal documents, the effectiveness of state government websites and e-procurement platforms, and the punctuality of document releases.
The Q1 2024 rankings reveal significant disparities in fiscal transparency practices among Nigerian states. Edo and Anambra shared the top spot with a score of 93% each, followed by Ekiti and Jigawa, both scoring 92%, and Ebonyi at 87%.
Conversely, states like Benue and Kebbi lagged behind with scores of 42%, while Bayelsa (40%), Borno (32%), and Imo (31%) occupied the lowest ranks.
In discussing Edo State’s achievement, BudgIT acknowledged its similarities with Anambra but noted that better organization of documents on Edo’s state website would improve accessibility.
The rankings were based on several critical indicators, including:
- Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)
- Proposed Budget
- Approved Budget
- Citizens’ Budget
- Budget Implementation Reports
- Audit Reports
- Accountant General’s Financial Statement
- E-procurement Portal
- State Government Websites with Fiscal Repositories
Each indicator was rated on availability, timeliness, and comprehensiveness.
The report also highlighted the importance of the MTEF, describing it as an annual three-year expenditure planning document that sets priorities and budget limits to guide sectoral strategies. It also serves as a performance monitoring tool alongside the Budget Framework Paper, forming the foundation for yearly budget preparations. The MTEF is expected to be publicly available on state websites by the end of the third quarter.
