By Mercy Gadia Adi
The House of Representatives has emphasized the need for African parliaments to strengthen their legislative oversight functions on public debt, warning that the sustainability of the continent’s economic growth depends heavily on how well lawmakers hold governments accountable in borrowing and debt management.
This call was made in Abuja on Wednesday by Hon. Bamidele Salam, Chairman Public Accounts Committee, during a press briefing on the forthcoming 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West African Association of Public Account Committees (WAAPAC). The event, themed “Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight of Public Debt: The Role of Finance and Public Account Committees”, is scheduled to hold in Abuja from Monday, 8th September to Friday, 12th September, 2025.
According to Salam, the high-level gathering will draw over 300 participants including legislators, financial experts, civil society representatives, and development partners from across West Africa, Southern Africa, and East Africa. He expressed optimism that the conference will create a robust platform for knowledge-sharing, peer review, and reform-oriented deliberations that will help participating nations to refine their debt oversight systems.
Hon. Salam explained that one of the most valuable outcomes of the conference will be the opportunity for African nations to learn from one another’s experiences.
“Each country will bring their own experience, and then we will discuss. By those discussions, we will learn from one another. When Ghana speaks, when Mali speaks, when South Africa or Tanzania brings their own experience on how they oversight public debt, we will be able to strengthen our institutions to deliver more,” he stated.
He added that the peer review mechanism of the association provides member nations with practical models for improving legislative oversight, planning, and budgeting.
Salam also stressed that beyond strengthening institutions, the Abuja conference will serve as an opportunity for Nigeria to reassert its leadership role within regional and continental parliamentary bodies.
“Before our own coming on board into the Public Accounts Committee, Nigeria had severed relationship with this organization for almost two decades. This conference will help us to re-establish Nigeria’s leadership so that the image of our country will be boosted and our morale as parliamentarians strengthened,” he said.
He noted that as Africa’s most populous nation and largest democracy, Nigeria must take a front seat in shaping continental conversations around governance, accountability, and fiscal discipline.
To ensure the success of the event, Salam disclosed that a Steering Committee comprising critical government institutions has been constituted. Members include the Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), as well as the National Assembly.
He assured that adequate security, hospitality, and logistics arrangements have been put in place to host delegates in line with international standards.
The conference will feature keynote and technical presentations from policymakers, scholars, and practitioners. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, will deliver the keynote address, while the Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), along with experts from academia and global organizations, will also make contributions.
Salam maintained that the ultimate goal is for every parliament represented at the event to return home with practical takeaways that can help bridge gaps in debt oversight and fiscal accountability.
“At the end of this conference, each parliament and participating organization will go home with takeaways that will strengthen them to deliver more on what their constitution mandates. The whole goal is to ensure that our countries develop systems that close loopholes, adopt best practices, and even enact new legislations where necessary,” he concluded.
The WAAPAC General Assembly, which convenes annually, serves as a strategic forum for legislators across the continent to review financial accountability mechanisms, debate fiscal challenges, and push for reforms aimed at improving transparency in public finance.
With Abuja set to host the 2025 edition, expectations are high that Nigeria will not only deliver a world-class event but also reposition itself as a continental leader in parliamentary diplomacy and fiscal governance.