The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has honored a World Bank scholar and Columbia University-trained economist, Abubakar Inuwa Tata, for the laudable economic reforms in Gombe state under the State2State project in Nigeria.

Tata was honored for bringing currency to the operation of the Gombe State Fiscal Responsibility Commission while reforming the state’s Internal Revenue Service(IRS).

He was commended for bringing the activities of the commission to the limelight with the publication of its flagship report, “Understanding Gombe State Budget and Financial Statement of the Commission”, for the first time in its seven years of existence.

The report analyzed the sectoral breakdown of revenue, expenditure, and financing, including internal and external risks to the implementation of the budget, risk mitigation measures, and disclosure.

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

On the expenditure side, the report recommended 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.

The reform-minded Gombe State indigene who worked at the Central Bank of Nigeria, until recently, also doubled as the Executive Chairman of Gombe State Internal Revenue Service (2020–2022), where he ensured 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.