In a renewed push towards enhancing financial transparency and global best practices in public sector accounting, the Lagos State Government has commenced an intensive capacity-building programme for its finance and audit personnel. The training, organized by the Ministry of Establishments and Training, is targeted at equipping Accounts, Finance, and Audit Officers across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) with advanced knowledge of international financial reporting systems.
Held at the Millennium Secondary School, Ojodu, the workshop is themed “Public Sector Financial Reporting Standards” and aligns with the state’s broader Treasury Modernisation Agenda. The programme reflects the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency, and institutional efficiency within the civil service.
Declaring the training open, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Olasumbo Abidakun, expressed appreciation for the consistent support of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu in advancing public sector reforms. She noted that the administration’s investment in financial management infrastructure and human capital has not only strengthened accountability mechanisms but also positioned Lagos as a model of responsible governance in Nigeria.
Mrs. Abidakun highlighted the significance of the State’s ongoing adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), emphasizing that the transition to automated financial systems has been critical in enhancing real-time monitoring and reporting of public funds. She also made reference to the implementation of various Automated Financial Management Platforms, which have introduced efficiency and reduced manual bottlenecks in financial reporting.
“As Accounts and Audit Officers, you are the foot soldiers of these reforms,” she said, underlining the vital role of human expertise in ensuring the success of even the most sophisticated financial platforms. According to her, the training was not just a formality but a strategic move to align Lagos State’s financial operations with global standards, ensuring that all relevant officers understand and apply the principles of IPSAS in their daily duties.
Over 200 officers drawn from various MDAs participated in the session, with facilitators taking them through practical modules on financial disclosure, accrual accounting, and regulatory compliance in the public sector. The programme is expected to bridge the knowledge gap and ensure uniformity in financial documentation across the state’s administrative structure.
The Lagos State Government has in recent years intensified its focus on modernising its treasury operations as part of broader economic reforms. By institutionalising IPSAS and other globally accepted accounting frameworks, the state continues to lead subnational entities in Nigeria in fiscal prudence and accountability.
The ongoing training is part of a phased approach to sustaining long-term transparency and efficient resource management in Africa’s largest subnational economy.
