June 04, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives is set to host a National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance.
The initiative is part of efforts to reshape the nation’s fiscal accountability framework and address financial leakages.
Addressing the Press Corps in a Pre-Conference news briefing at the National Assembly Complex, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Bamidele Salam, said the conference would offer an opportunity for deeper financial collaboration among stakeholders.
He explained that the event forms a central part of the House Legislative Agenda, which focuses on strengthening democratic institutions through transparency, accountability, and sustainable fiscal management.
Themed “Fiscal Governance in Nigeria: Charting a New Course for Transparency and Sustainable Development”, the conference is expected to bring together Nigeria’s leading public sector financial managers, lawmakers, regulatory agencies, anti-corruption institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, and representatives from all three tiers of government.
Salam noted that Nigeria stands at a critical juncture in its public financial management reforms.
Citing official records from the 2020/2021 Auditor-General’s reports, he revealed that over N300 billion in public expenditure remains unaccounted for, with a disturbing pattern of unauthorised virements and audit queries. He said more than 60 per cent of federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) continue to flout financial regulations, further undermining public confidence in government institutions.
Salam said the conference would provide a platform for building institutional and human capacity through training and workshops for Public Accounts Committees, auditors, finance managers, and regulatory officers.
He emphasised the need to build a strong consensus among stakeholders to advance accountability and transparency as core national values.
