The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives is set to host a national conference on public accounts and fiscal governance
In a renewed push to tackle Nigeria’s enduring fiscal accountability crisis, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives is set to host a landmark national conference on public accounts and fiscal governance (NCPAFG).
The five-day event is scheduled to hold from July 6 to 10, 2025, at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, made the announcement during a preconference press briefing on Monday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
He said the conference aligns with the core of the 10th House’s legislative agenda, which prioritizes good governance as the bedrock of sustainable national development.
Themed “Fiscal Governance in Nigeria: Charting a New Course for Transparency and Sustainable Development,” the gathering aims to strengthen institutional capacity, harmonize audit and accountability laws across the country, and explore digital solutions to fiscal leakages and corruption.
“As a crucial stakeholder charged with the constitutional mandate to oversight public financial management activities and review reports of audit and accounting institutions, we note that Nigeria stands today at a critical juncture in its journey toward fiscal governance reforms,” Rep. Salam stated.
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He continued: “While some progress has been made over the years and particularly the notable reforms under the current administration, entrenched systemic challenges remain.
“These challenges include limited full-cycle audit implementation, high-level institutional financial leakages, a skewed and opaque public financial reporting system, and widespread non-enforcement of financial protocols across MDAs at all levels of government.”
Citing official records, Salam said that “the 2020/2021 Auditor General’s reports reveal over a quarter-trillion naira in public expenditures remain unaccounted for, with high incidents of unauthorized virements, and more than 60% of MDAs persistently failing to comply with financial regulations.”
He warned that if these trends are left unchecked, they will continue to erode public trust, undermine national development efforts, and weaken Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
However, he expressed optimism that the upcoming conference would be a turning point.
“If Nigeria is to reap the full benefits of the ongoing fiscal governance reforms initiated by the Tinubu-led administration, then we must seize this opportunity for a high-level national policy dialogue,” he said.
“We believe it is imperative to use this unique platform to deepen collaboration among Public Accounts Committees—particularly at sub-national levels—Audit Institutions, Regulatory Bodies, and Anti-Corruption Agencies.” he added.
Salam further said that “The event will be attended by high-ranking dignitaries, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who will serve as the Distinguished Special Guest of Honour. Vice President Kashim Shettima is billed to deliver the keynote address, Senate President Godswill Akpabio as a secret guest, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas as the chief host, while the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike is expected to serve as the host.
“International participation will be highlighted by Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., Director General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), who will deliver a keynote presentation.
“Delegates from the Nigerian Governors Forum, key MDAs at all levels of government, audit institutions, financial crime agencies, local government authorities, academia, media, private sector representatives, and civil society organizations are also expected to participate” he added.
Salam disclosed that the conference targets specific measurable outcomes, including:
- Reducing unaccounted expenditures from over ₦300 billion to less than ₦1 billion by 2026
- Cutting the non-compliance rate among MDAs from over 60% to below 10%
- Improving Nigeria’s Fiscal Governance Health Index (FGHI) using digital transparency tools
- Issuing a broad stakeholders’ communiqué with actionable policy and legislative reforms
- Developing a National Blueprint for Digital Audit and Financial Management
- Establishing a National Fiscal Governance Working Group to sustain reforms and institutionalise accountability
He emphasized that the NCPAFG will also serve as a precursor to the 2025 Annual Conference of the West African Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAPAC), which Nigeria is set to host.
“This is not just another event,” he declared. “It is a national call to action—a collective moment to reset Nigeria’s fiscal governance trajectory.”
Concluding, Rep Salam called on the media and the public to actively engage with the process. “We count on the media to amplify this message to all corners of our country and beyond,” he added.
