Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has announced plans to establish a Fiscal Responsibility Agency in the state.

The governor made this disclosure during the opening of a three-day South-East zonal retreat on Fiscal Responsibility of sub-nations and Civil Society Organizations in Owerri.

Represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Chuck Chukwuemeka, Uzodimma emphasized the need for accountability and sustainability in governance, particularly under a democratic dispensation. He stated that the agency would ensure the implementation of fiscal laws for the benefit of the masses.

The Executive Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Chief Victor Muruako, explained that the retreat aimed to encourage Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to advocate for transparency, accountability, and prudent management. He highlighted the importance of academia processing fiscal data for public use and suggested that postgraduate research projects focus on the linkages between transparency, accountability, prudence, and economic development.

Muruako commended the Imo State government for hosting the retreat and noted that the commission had mapped out strategies to improve fiscal behaviors in states, leading to the establishment of fiscal responsibility legislation in Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo States. He also praised the publication of annual financial statements online by all five South-East states.

The chairman cautioned citizens to exercise their power responsibly, based on evidence rather than anecdotes.