LOKOJA, Nigeria – Kogi State in central Nigeria has announced plans to introduce bi-annual audits of its 21 local government areas to strengthen fiscal discipline and boost internally generated revenue (IGR).
The move, disclosed by Yakubu Adabenege, the Auditor-General for Local Government, is part of a broader effort to address financial leakages and improve the self-sufficiency of local administrations. The first of these audits is slated to begin within the next three months, serving as a mid-year assessment of the councils’ financial performance.
Mr. Adabenege emphasized that many local government areas are currently struggling to meet their financial obligations due to underperformance in revenue generation. He stressed that the audit is a “practical step to ensure that local governments begin to take responsibility for their financial health” and that council chairmen, as chief executives, will be held accountable for any lapses. The Auditor-General also called for greater synergy among financial officers and urged them to adopt more transparent methods for revenue collection and remittance.
The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kogi State, Tosin Olokun, welcomed the initiative, stating it would provide a crucial benchmark for measuring improvements in revenue generation
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