….President Tinubu, Shettima, Akpabio, Abbas, Wike others to participate in conference
By Lubem Gena, Abuja
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Representative Bamidele Salam, on Tuesday briefed the press ahead of the forthcoming National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance (NCPAFG), calling it a “national call to action” for transparency, accountability, and sustainable development in Nigeria’s public finance system.
The conference is expected to attract some of the most prominent figures in Nigeria’s governance space. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, will serve as the Distinguished Special Guest of Honour, while Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, will deliver the Conference Speech.
Other key dignitaries include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House Abbas Tajudeen, and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The keynote address will be delivered by Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
Speaking at the Press Centre of the House of Representatives in the National Assembly Complex, Rep. Salam said the high-level conference is scheduled to take place from July 6 to 10, 2025, at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
He described the event as a strategic step in the implementation of the 10th House’s Legislative Agenda, aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s fiscal governance and public accounts management systems.
“This conference is not just another event,” Salam said. “It is a national call to action — a collective moment to reset Nigeria’s fiscal governance trajectory.”
According to him, the conference, themed “Fiscal Governance in Nigeria: Charting a New Course for Transparency and Sustainable Development,” will bring together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to deliberate on the structural, legal, and institutional reforms needed to restore credibility to the country’s public financial management framework.
Citing findings from the 2020/2021 Auditor-General’s reports, Salam expressed concern that over ₦250 billion in public expenditures remains unaccounted for. He noted that the situation is worsened by the growing number of audit queries and the persistent failure of more than 60% of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to comply with established financial regulations.
“These trends, if left unchecked, will continue to erode public trust, undermine sustainable national development, and weaken our democratic institutions,” he said.
The chairman stressed that while some progress has been recorded under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, systemic challenges such as limited full-cycle audit implementation, institutional leakages, and weak enforcement of financial protocols must be urgently addressed.
The PAC Chairman outlined several key objectives of the NCPAFG, including building institutional and human capacity for financial oversight, strengthening audit implementation frameworks, promoting post-legislative scrutiny, and aligning laws and PAC operations at both national and sub-national levels.
“We aim to deliver targeted skill-building sessions for public accounts committees, auditors, financial managers, and regulatory officers across all tiers of government. There will be a special focus on digital governance tools, audit automation, and anti-corruption technologies”, he stated.
According to him, legacy outcomes will include the development of a National Blueprint for Digital Audit and Financial Management and the establishment of a National Fiscal Governance Working Group, which will help sustain reforms and institutionalize best practices.
Participants will include representatives from: The Federal Ministry of Finance; Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation; Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation; EFCC; ICPC; NFIU; State Houses of Assembly and their Public Accounts Committees; Local Government Financial Officers; Development Partners; Civil Society Organizations, The Organized Private Sector as well as the Academia.
Salam emphasized the importance of collaboration among these stakeholders, stating, “If Nigeria is to fully benefit from the fiscal reforms under the Tinubu administration, then we must use this conference as a springboard to deepen cooperation across all levels.”
The PAC Chairman urged media organizations to support the initiative by amplifying its message and sensitizing the public. “We count on the media to amplify this message to all corners of our country and beyond,” he said. “Your role in holding institutions accountable is more vital than ever.”
He expressed optimism about the potential of the conference to transform Nigeria’s public finance landscape and called for the full commitment of all stakeholders. “We must act now to safeguard the financial integrity of our institutions and deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda for the benefit of present and future generations.”
