EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC SECTOR BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
The objectives of this study are to: 1) Investigate the relationship between public sector budgeting practices and financial management outcomes, 2) Identify factors influencing budgetary efficiency and financial management effectiveness, and 3) Propose strategies to enhance the alignment between budgeting and financial management. A survey design is chosen for its ability to collect broad-based quantitative data from public sector financial managers. The sample size is set at 370, derived using Taro Yamane’s formula, ensuring a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error. Abuja is selected as the case study location due to its role as the administrative center of Nigeria. The reliability coefficient score of the survey is 0.88, indicating high reliability. Findings indicate a strong relationship between well-structured budgeting practices and effective financial management, with factors such as transparency, stakeholder engagement, and continuous monitoring playing critical roles. The study recommends adopting best practices in budgeting, enhancing transparency, and implementing robust monitoring systems to improve financial management outcomes in the public sector.