By Mercy Adi
The National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committees (PAC) have pledged to drive effective financial management systems, promoting accountability and transparency in government funds.
The Chairman of the House Public Accounts committee, Hon. Bamidele Salam, made this announcement during the inauguration of Nigeria’s National Association of Public Accounts Committees in Abuja.
According to Salam, “The revitalization of the Public Accounts Committees is critical to ensuring that our financial management systems are transparent and effective.”
He emphasized the importance of revitalizing these committees, stating, “It is high time we deepened our engagement and strengthened collaboration between the National and State Assemblies.”
The Nigerian government recognizes the need to enhance the committees’ role in auditing national and state finances for better oversight. This revitalization aims to foster stronger collaboration between the National Assembly and state houses of assembly in handling financial matters across the country.
As part of the revitalization plan, a national conference is scheduled for March 2025 to focus on deepening discussions around accountability and financial management. The conference will gather representatives from public accounts committees across Nigeria, as well as international experts on financial oversight and auditing.
Hon. Salam concluded, “Our goal is to catch up with outstanding audit reports, ensuring that we remain at par with international financial standards.” By the end of 2025, the goal is to bring Nigeria up to date with the 2022 and 2023 Auditor General’s reports, ensuring timely review