Tinubu and NASS Boost Auditor General’s Power for Stronger Fiscal Control

Commitment to Fiscal Governance and Transparency

President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to strengthening the role of the Office of the Auditor-General, enhancing the procurement transparency framework, and expanding the use of digital financial management systems across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This commitment was highlighted during the opening ceremony of the four-day National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance 2025 in Abuja. The event, themed “Fiscal Governance in Nigeria: Charting a New Course for Transparency and Sustainable Development,” brought together key stakeholders to discuss critical issues related to public finances.

During the conference, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of coordination between fiscal and monetary policies. He stated that sound fiscal governance cannot thrive in isolation from monetary stability. The administration is working closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure better alignment between fiscal and monetary policies. This collaboration is essential to manage inflation, stabilize the naira, and restore investor confidence.

The President also addressed the need to reduce inflationary pressures by tackling structural bottlenecks, particularly in food supply chains, while maintaining discipline in public spending. He stressed that transparency and accountability are not optional but prerequisites for fiscal sustainability. To achieve this, the administration has taken steps to strengthen the Office of the Auditor-General, enhance procurement transparency, and expand the use of digital financial management systems across MDAs.

Advancements in Technology and Accountability

President Tinubu highlighted ongoing investments in key technologies such as the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), and the Open Treasury Portal. These platforms ensure that public funds are traceable, public officers are accountable, and the Nigerian people are empowered with information. The goal is to move from opacity to openness, fostering trust and confidence in the government’s operations.

He urged the National Assembly and its Public Accounts Committees to carry out their constitutional duties with integrity, courage, and independence. Tinubu emphasized that oversight is not a political tool but a patriotic duty. He called for active citizen engagement in fiscal governance, urging civil society, the media, and the general public to act as co-owners of the national project rather than spectators.

Shared Responsibility for Good Governance

Tinubu reiterated that good governance is a shared responsibility. He highlighted the roles of parliament in oversight, the judiciary in upholding the rule of law, the media in public enlightenment, civil society in advocacy, and citizens in participation. All these elements are essential to building a Nigeria that is fiscally strong and socially just.

He concluded by calling on stakeholders at the conference to produce actionable recommendations that will strengthen Nigeria’s public financial management system and chart a path toward economic sovereignty. The conference aimed to foster collaboration and innovation in fiscal governance, ensuring that Nigeria can meet its developmental goals.

Legislative Efforts and Institutional Reforms

Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Bamidele Salam, reiterated the resolve of both chambers of the National Assembly to ensure the passage of the Audit Bill, which has been pending for ten years. He described the conference as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of transparency, accountability, and sustainable development. Salam emphasized that as Africa’s largest economy and the most populous Black nation, Nigeria must lead the continent’s economic emancipation through deliberate efforts to recalibrate fiscal responsibility systems and improve global transparency rankings.

Salam expressed optimism that the conference would produce clear, actionable, pragmatic, and measurable plans for improved fiscal governance in the immediate, short, and long term. He also noted that one of the key achievements of the pre-conference dinner was a renewed commitment by both chambers to speedily pass the long-delayed Audit Bill.

Support for Independent Oversight

Salam specifically praised the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, for providing a supportive environment for the committee to operate independently. He affirmed that Speaker Abbas has never interfered with investigative hearings and has offered substantial support to help deliver on the constitutional mandate.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas restated the 10th House of Representatives’ commitment to prioritizing good governance and anti-corruption as key pillars of its legislative agenda. He mentioned that between July 2023 and June 2025, the House passed an unprecedented number of bills focused on financial oversight. The Federal Audit Service Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023, has been passed by the House and is awaiting Senate concurrence. If enacted, the law would enhance the independence and capacity of Nigeria’s supreme audit institution.

Abbas also highlighted oversight efforts across ministries and agencies, and the House’s ongoing consideration of reforms to expedite the audit cycle and institutionalize post-audit follow-ups. He emphasized the continued commitment to enacting laws that protect whistleblowers and witnesses, reinforcing the importance of transparency and accountability in public institutions.