By Fatima Ndagi
In what has been described as a national call to action, the House of Representatives is set to host a landmark event aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s fiscal accountability architecture.
The National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance (NCPAFG), organized by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House, will take place from July 6 to 10, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Speaking during a pre-conference press briefing at the National Assembly Press Center, Chairman of the House PAC, Rep. Bamidele Salam, outlined an ambitious roadmap for the conference, describing it as a key pillar of the 10th House’s Legislative Agenda, which seeks to strengthen 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 will convene top public sector financial managers, lawmakers, regulators, anti-corruption agencies, development partners, civil society actors, and representatives from the three tiers of government.
Rep. Salam noted that the event will also serve as a prelude to Nigeria’s hosting of the 2025 West African Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAPAC) Conference, for which the country recently secured hosting rights.
Citing data from the 2020/2021 Auditor-General’s reports, he revealed that over ₦300 billion in public funds remain unaccounted for due to unauthorized virements and widespread audit violations. He expressed concern that over 60 percent of federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) continue to disregard financial regulations, further eroding public trust.
> “This conference is not just timely—it is urgent. We must confront these challenges head-on through robust dialogue, capacity building, and institutional reform,” Salam emphasized.
The five-day event will include training and workshops for Public Accounts Committees, auditors, financial managers, and regulatory officers.
Sessions will focus on audit efficiency, oversight innovations, and digital reforms in public financial management.
Beyond capacity building, the conference will tackle structural barriers that hinder the effective implementation of audit recommendations. Stakeholders will engage in high-level discussions to harmonize laws, operational guidelines, and oversight practices across federal, state, and local government levels.
A key objective of the conference is to build a strong, cross-sectoral consensus around transparency and accountability as core national values.
The event will also explore global best practices in digital governance, audit automation, fiscal tracking, and anti-corruption technology—tools essential for aligning Nigeria’s systems with international standards in an increasingly digital economy.
Expected outcomes include cutting unaccounted public funds from over ₦300 billion to under ₦1 billion by 2026, reducing MDA non-compliance to single digits, creating a National Digital Audit Blueprint, and establishing a multi-stakeholder Fiscal Governance Working Group.
The conference will be graced by top dignitaries, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who will serve as Distinguished Special Guest of Honour. Vice President Kashim Shettima is slated to deliver the keynote address, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike will participate in various capacities.
International participation will be led 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, audit institutions, financial crime agencies, MDAs at all levels, academia, media, private sector, and civil society are also expected to attend.
Rep. Salam closed his remarks with an appeal to the media, “This is a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy and development. We urge the media to amplify the importance of this conference and galvanize public engagement. Together, we can reset Nigeria’s fiscal governance trajectory and leave a legacy of accountability for generations to come.”
With preparations in full swing, the 2025 National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance is shaping up to be a transformative event in Nigeria’s quest for transparent, accountable, and digitally driven public financial management.