Public Finances Control and Management Bill passed into law in Niger

The Niger State House of Assembly on Wednesday said in an effort to instill financial discipline and accountability in the management of public funds in the state, it has passed into law the Public Finances Control and Management Bill 2015.

Speaking after the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Barrister Adamu Usman, spoke extensively on the significance of the new law.

Usman said it was in line with international best practice in accounting system.

This followed clause by clause consideration of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation that carried out legislative activity on the bill.

Usman explained that accountability and transparency should always be the guiding principle of any democratic governance, adding: “The bill was unanimously passed to allow for acceptable accounting system in the state.”

Usman expressed optimism that government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies would strictly abide by the new law to check wastage in government finances.

According to him: “With the new law, the state finance control and management law of 1958 has therefore been repealed.”

The speaker then commended members of the committee for a job well done.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Usman Magaji, said major stakeholders were consulted for their input.

Magaji expressed the hope that the contribution of the committee would assist to transform the accounting system in the state to a more transparent and people-oriented financial system.