President Bola Tinubu has assured that his administration would strengthen the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation to enhance procurement transparency framework and expand the use of digital financial management systems across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
He gave the assurance in Abuja, during the opening of the 4-day ‘National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance 2025’
President Tinubu who was represented by Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, assured that his “Administration is working more closely than ever with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure better coordination between fiscal and monetary policy. This alignment is crucial to tame inflation, stabilize the naira, and restore investor confidence.
“We are determined to reduce inflationary pressures by addressing structural bottlenecks—particularly in food supply chains—while exercising discipline in public spending.
“Let me be clear: transparency and accountability are not optional—they are prerequisites for fiscal sustainability, thus we have strengthened the role of the Office of the Auditor-General, enhanced the framework for procurement transparency, and expanded the use of digital financial management systems across ministries, departments and agencies.
“However, fiscal governance is not only about policy; it is about accountability and trust. That is why we have also invested in technologies like 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. We must move from opacity to openness, from suspicion to confidence.
“In this regard, I call on the National Assembly and especially the Public Accounts Committees to continue discharging their constitutional responsibilities with integrity, courage, and independence. Oversight is not a political tool—it is a patriotic duty.
“Nigeria’s ambition for sustainable development demands strategic investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation. But these goals are unattainable without responsible budgeting and spending. Every project must be guided by value for money, and every budget must reflect the real priorities of our people.
“Furthermore, I must mention that fiscal governance cannot be effective without active citizen engagement. Nigerians must be empowered to ask questions, scrutinize public accounts, and demand accountability.
“I therefore urge civil society, organisations, the media, and the general public to partner with government in this journey—not as spectators, but as co-owners of the national project.
“Fellow Nigerians, good governance is a shared responsibility. The role of parliament in oversight, the judiciary in upholding the rule of law, the media in public enlightenment, civil society in advocacy, and the citizens in participation— are all essential to building a Nigeria that is fiscally strong and socially just.
“We must institutionalise good governance—not as an aspiration, but as a standard. We must build institutions that are independent, efficient, and empowered to hold power to account.
Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Bamidele Salam reiterated the resolve of the Senate and House of Representatives have unanimously resolved to ensure the passage of the Audit bill, 10 years after it was initiated.
Salam, who reiterated the described the Conference as a significant milestone in the country’s collective pursuit of transparency, accountability, and sustainable development in Nigeria.
He said: “As Africa’s biggest economy and the most populous black Nation on earth, Nigeria must play a leading role the economic emancipation of this continent and there is no way we can achieve this if we do not make concerted, conscious efforts to recalibrate our fiscal responsibility systems and improve on our global transparency index”.