Gombe Fiscal Commission Chairman Named Economic Reform Champion In USAID’s Report

BY NAJIB SANI, GOMBE

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/State2State project has outlined the Gombe State Fiscal Responsibility Commission chairman Abubakar Inuwa Tata as the reform champion in political economy analysis report recently approved by the agency.

Tata, a World Bank Scholar and Columbia University trained economist was lauded for bringing currency to the operation of the Gombe State Fiscal Responsibility Commission and reforming the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service where he previously served as executive chairman.

Our correspondent gathered that the recognition was in view of his initiative which brought the commission to limelight by drafting a flagship report which analyzed the sectoral breakdown of revenues, expenditures and financing, including internal and external risks and the implementation of the state’s budget, risk mitigation measures, and disclosure.

The report recommended aggressive and sustainable revenue drive covering all areas of tax and non-tax revenues.

On the expenditure side, the report recommends stringent fiscal measures such as strict adherence to financial regulation, fiscal responsibility, and due process in the conduct of government business, as well as the establishment of a cash management committee and efficiency unit.

It also recommends speedy passage of the procurement bill, the new tax law, the revision of financial regulations, and the subsequent enactment of the financial regulations into law, among many others.

“He midwifed far reaching reforms at the sub-national level and was tagged as a Champion by the project due to his enormous contribution to the state. Abubakar Tata, having served until recently as a senior staff member of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja, has been posted to Gombe on secondment at the request of the Governor.

“He doubles as the overseer of the Gombe State Fiscal Responsibility Commission discussed above. The Governor is keen on generating more taxes and revenue in order to boost the state’s finances. This effort and the appointment of the new administrator provided an entry point for S2S to build the capacity of tax and revenue administrators in the state.

“You may wish to recall that Abubakar Inuwa Tata has successfully initiated and completed tax and revenue reforms in Gombe State by conducting a wholesale review of the Gombe State Revenue Law, strengthening governance structure in the Service, prohibiting cash collection in revenue administration, digitalizing the revenue collection process, and strengthening the internal control process, which significantly reduces leakages and improves collections from N6.8 billion in 2019 to N8.6 billion in 2020, N10.5 billion in 2021, and N13.24 billion in 2022, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a feat that has not been achieved in the history of Gombe State to date.”, the report party reads.

Metoric Post reports that the reform undertaken by the Columbia University Ambassador under public sector reform (SFTAS) has earned the Gombe State Government a non-debt grant of 6.5 million dollars.