Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has called for a new era of fiscal governance where the focus moves beyond passing budgets to tracking how public funds translate into measurable results.
Speaking through the House Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, at the National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance held Monday in Abuja, Abbas stressed that sustainable development hinges on transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
He noted that fiscal transparency must evolve from being an exclusive preserve of technocrats to a democratic right that enables citizens to shape public policy. “This conference should address the fact that fiscal transparency should no longer be confined to elite circles of technocrats and auditors; it must become a democratic right that empowers citizens to participate in shaping public policy,” Abbas stated.
Highlighting reforms under the 10th House of Representatives, the Speaker said steps have been taken to improve oversight, including making audit reports public, strengthening engagement with the Office of the Auditor-General, and following up on previous audit findings.
“We have begun to institutionalise a culture where public fund management is not only monitored but measured against actual impact,” he said. “It is no longer sufficient to pass budgets; the real legislative triumph lies in ensuring that budgeted funds lead to tangible public outcomes.”
Abbas also noted the introduction of performance-based budgeting, which ties funding to service delivery targets. He said appropriation bills from the executive are now subjected to public presentation and debate, enhancing scrutiny and citizen engagement.
He added that post-budget activities have expanded in the last two years, including performance reviews, on-site inspections, and sectoral audits to assess how funds are actually spent.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented at the conference by Senator Abdul Ningi, issued a warning to government agencies that legislative oversight must be taken seriously. Ningi condemned the practice of ignoring invitations from the public accounts committees.
“Refusal to honour legislative invitations, especially from the public accounts committees (PACs), is unacceptable. This trend must be stopped,” he said. “Without accountability, there will be no prosperity. Without discipline, there will be no development.”
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Bamidele Salam, reiterated the committee’s resolve to ensure that public funds are used lawfully and effectively.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that public resources are managed in a lawful, transparent, prudent, judicious, accountable, and efficient manner,” Salam said, adding that the committee is focused on tackling corruption, impunity, and breaches of due process in public financial management.
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