From Mu’awiyya Bala Idris
The Katsina State Government has intensified efforts to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in public financial management by organising a one-day follow-up capacity-building workshop for accountants and payment initiators involved in the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
The workshop, held in Katsina, was designed to address operational gaps, improve financial processes and equip participants with the knowledge required to strengthen the effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account across government institutions.
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Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Bello Kagara, said the training underscores the commitment of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s administration to promoting sound financial management and ensuring prudent utilisation of public resources.
According to the Commissioner, the government remains committed to continuous training and retraining of officers responsible for implementing the TSA in order to improve their professional competence and effectively address emerging operational challenges.
He explained that the workshop would provide participants with an opportunity to identify existing gaps in the TSA process and propose practical solutions that would further strengthen the state’s financial management system.
Alhaji Kagara urged participants to actively engage with the facilitators by raising issues affecting the smooth implementation of the Treasury Single Account, noting that TSA operators are critical stakeholders whose contributions are essential to the success of the system.
The Commissioner disclosed that government had identified several operational challenges in the expenditure process, including gaps in the handling of payment vouchers, appropriation procedures and internal checks and balances.
He also revealed that there were instances where payments had been processed into unintended beneficiary accounts, stressing that stronger internal control mechanisms and improved operational strategies were already being implemented to address the identified shortcomings.
Alhaji Kagara emphasised that effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account depends on the ability of operators to promptly identify operational challenges and communicate them to the appropriate technical authorities for timely resolution.
“We cannot have a perfect operation, but all we want is an efficient system. Perfection is not possible, but we must ensure that we put in our best,” the Commissioner stated.»
He assured participants that recommendations generated during the workshop would receive serious attention from the state government and relevant authorities to further strengthen financial governance.
The Commissioner further urged all accountants and payment initiators to demonstrate professionalism, integrity, competence and dedication in the discharge of their duties.
He commended the organisers and facilitators for partnering with the Katsina State Government to improve TSA implementation and expressed confidence that sustained capacity building and stakeholder collaboration would significantly enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in the management of public funds across the state.
