IPSAS to be introduced at Local Government level – Turaki

ABUJA (Ministry of Special Duties Report) – “The International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) which has already been identified as critical in the management of finances is now to be part of the system at the local government level.”

The Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki disclosed this during a validation workshop on the Draft Revised Scheme of Service and Financial Memoranda for Local Governments held recently.

He said that the introduction of IPSAS at the local level would bring about harmonized relationships between the three tiers of Government and further dictate the pace of adherence to the tenets of democracy, transparency and accountability. According to him, the workshop was organized to facilitate improvement in the two draft documents to ensure that the institutions and structures at the local level are strengthened.

The Minister further revealed that the Nigerian Government is ready to improve and increase the flow of democratic dividends, saying the review is expected to bring about blockade in the areas of wastage which will propel savings for the provision of basic amenities to different communities in the country.

In his goodwill message at the occasion, the UNDP Country Director, Pa Lamin-Beyai commended the Nigerian Government for returning attention to the needs of the local governments. He added that the local government system is a veritable means of creating a just and equitable society through the bureaucratic leadership for attainment of the drive for grassroots development.  He enjoined the Nigerian Government to leave no stone un-turned towards internalizing the revised and acceptable scheme of service for local governments in the country. 

The workshop was organized by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a follow-up to the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Review of Local Government Scheme of Service conducted on April 28, 2014.