By Dr. Kabir Abdullahi
On the 29th of May, 2023, Malam Dikko Radda, PhD, was sworn in as the Executive Governor of Katsina State. On this day, among other things, he made a decisive pledge that he would implement the Treasury Single Account (TSA). To others, this pledge was not different from the usual political statements which more often than not politicians verbalise. However, to some, it was a sincere promise that would be unpretentiously implemented. These mixed assumptions had been the leading subject matter of discussion within and outside Katsina State until the 3rd of July 2023 when the Governor fulfilled his promise by appending his signature on the official document that formalised the coming into effect of the Treasury Single Account in Katsina State.
As the title suggests, Treasury Single Account is a public sector accounting system which brings together all forms of government revenues, receipts and incomes into a single account. The broad objective behind the creation of the Treasury Single Account is to improve the existing management of the government's revenues by way of blocking revenue leakages so that the government can have more revenues to finance development projects while minimizing deficit financing and its costs simultaneously. Also, this policy tool helps in promoting accountability and transparency in the government's financial operations. It also improves the budgeting process by providing quick and exact information on the government's financial position. Similarly, Treasury Single Account blocks unauthorised spending that may likely not be captured on the budget. The implementation of this high-impact policy goes a long way in wiping out many government bank accounts, thereby reducing the odds of corruption and multiple bank charges on the government's financial dealings. More so, it makes modes of financial payments very effective and efficient by making the processes easy and where possible eliminating unnecessary delays. These and many other reasons informed the decision of the Governor of Katsina State to take the bull by the horns and implement the Treasury Single Account policy.
Having implemented this policy, Malam Dikko deserves heart-whole commendations. In the long run, Malam Dikko will be kindly remembered as the first Katsina State Governor that has positively restructured the financial system of the State, not only for the benefit of his administration but for the upcoming ones and the entire good people of the State. While I write this piece, Dikko remains the leading light among his peers in the entire northern extraction as justified by his uncommon commitments and which have made him achieve what no other governor has achieved in just less than 60 days in office. In truth, I see Malam Dikko as another version of Zulum (Borno State Governor). The only marked difference is that Dikko hails from the Northwest while the other hails from the Northeast. Thus, from my perspective, Malam Dikko is an extraordinary political asset whose knowledge, wisdom and political acuity will continue to be of huge benefit not only to Katsina State or Northern Nigeria but the country as a whole.
In earnest, I pray that Allah continues to help him by giving him more knowledge, wisdom and courage to execute people-centred policies that will uplift the living standards of the people of Katsina State.
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