Ekiti Tops Fiscal Transparency Ranking, Lagos, Rivers Trail Behind — Report
By Johnson Folarin
Ekiti State has been ranked as the most fiscally transparent state in Nigeria, according to the States Fiscal Transparency League (SFTL) Q2 2025 report released by BudgIT on Wednesday.
The report, which assessed all 36 states, highlighted stark disparities in performance, with Ekiti scoring a perfect 100 percent for what was described as its “remarkable consistency across all fiscal transparency benchmarks.”
Gombe followed with 99 percent, while Kebbi placed third with 98 percent. Ebonyi and Osun also performed strongly, each recording 97 percent. These states were praised for publishing key financial documents including approved budgets, quarterly budget implementation reports, and Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEF) on time and in accessible formats.
However, some of Nigeria’s economically significant states were ranked among the worst performers. Lagos finished at the bottom of the table in 36th place with a score of 57 percent, largely due to the absence of an MTEF and Citizens’ Budget. Rivers (35th with 58 percent) and Kano (34th with 63 percent) were similarly criticized for failing to release crucial reports such as quarterly budget implementation updates and Accountant-General’s statements.
The report further noted recurring gaps in fiscal governance nationwide, including poor planning, incomplete financial disclosures, and weak digital infrastructure. In several states, e-procurement portals were either non-functional or outdated. For instance, Jigawa’s procurement website displayed a “404 error,” while Imo’s failed to upload any 2025 project data.
BudgIT urged state governments to improve timeliness and accessibility of financial reporting, stressing that functional, user-friendly, and machine-readable platforms are vital for building public trust and ensuring accountability.
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