The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with the Edo State Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, has organised a one-day fiscal stakeholder engagement to promote the digitalisation of the Sub-National Fiscal Survey and strengthen accountability in public financial management.
The engagement, which brought together relevant stakeholders, focused on transitioning from manual to digital fiscal reporting to improve data accuracy, ensure timely submissions, enhance monitoring and promote access to reliable fiscal information across government institutions.
In her goodwill message, the Director of Policy Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Patience Uyigue, appreciated participants for their attendance and described the transition to electronic fiscal surveys as a significant step towards improving accuracy, timely reporting and effective governance.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Director of the Statistics Department, CBN, the Principal Manager, Survey Studies Office, Abuja, Eze Annette, commended the CBN Benin Branch for its hospitality and appreciated the Edo State Government for its continued partnership and support.
She stressed that the engagement was important to strengthening national statistics and improving access to credible fiscal information.
According to her, digitalisation goes beyond replacing paper-based processes with electronic platforms, as it is designed to improve data reporting and dissemination through three key principles: timeliness, integrity and continuity.
Earlier in his welcome address, the CBN Benin Branch Controller, Mr. Akpanke Utande Kingsley, described Edo State as an important contributor to Nigeria’s fiscal framework.
He explained that the engagement was designed to strengthen data validation, improve monitoring processes and ensure prompt fiscal reporting.
Kingsley reaffirmed the CBN’s commitment to supporting statistics departments across states and local governments, noting that the initiative was part of an ongoing strategic partnership rather than a routine training exercise.
Speaking during a session on fiscal survey experiences, challenges and resolution strategies, the Head of the Statistics Office, CBN Benin Branch, Mr. Edwin Murphy Ekuase, explained that the fiscal survey covers government revenue, expenditure, borrowing, debt and off-budget activities.
He noted that the information generated through the survey was essential for assessing government financial performance.
Ekuase identified inaccurate or incomplete data submissions, delays in reporting and financial constraints as some of the major challenges associated with the manual data collection process.
Also speaking, Mr. Michael Onuh of the Government Finance and Statistics Division, CBN, Abuja, who delivered a presentation on fiscal digitalisation, emphasised the need for fiscal data collection to go beyond mere submission to include proper analysis capable of addressing national fiscal challenges.
He explained that digital systems provide valuable information on fiscal balances and emerging financial pressures while supporting budgeting, expenditure planning and public accountability.
Onuh further highlighted the shortcomings of the manual reporting system, including cumbersome procedures, high operational costs, delayed releases and inadequate monitoring.
He listed the benefits of digitalisation to include near real-time data submission, automated validation, reduced operational costs, improved monitoring and more efficient quarterly reporting.
The engagement concluded with a practical demonstration of the digital survey platform, during which participants were introduced to its operations and application in fiscal data collection and reporting.
The initiative, as gathered by WorldClass247News, is expected to support improved fiscal information management, strengthen reporting processes and enhance accountability across state and local government institutions.