Nigeria Hosts West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees.

By Ferdinand Olise

The Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, PAC, is set to host the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees, WAAPAC, describing Nigeria’s hosting of the conference as timely and significant.

The House PAC Committee Chairman, Rep. Bamidele Salam, who stated this on Wednesday while giving update on the upcoming conference, said the conference which will examine debt trend and risks in the region, also provides a robust platform for learning, engagement, and experience-sharing among Committees and key stakeholders which will advance fiscal responsibility, and transparency across the sub-region.

According to him, this year’s conference with the theme “Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight of Public Debt: The Role of Finance and Public Accounts Committees,” is expected to attract over 300 participants including Lawmakers, Auditors, Fiscal Policy experts, and public finance professionals, from across West Africa and beyond, noting that the General Assembly will also deliberate on WAAPAC organizational growth and governance.

“This conference provides a robust platform for learning, engagement, and experience-sharing among committees and key stakeholders. It will help advance fiscal responsibility and transparency across the sub-region. The conference is expected to close with country-specific action plans to strengthen parliamentary oversight of public debt across West Africa, and set the stage for stronger legislative oversight, and sustainable debt management practices across West Africa”, he said.

The five-day event will focus on building the capacity of PACs, and Finance Committees for effective oversight of public debt and borrowing, examining debt trends and risks in the region, defining parliamentary roles in debt governance, and developing strategies to ensure debt sustainability.

Rep. Salam therefore described the conference as an opportunity to further showcase Nigeria which hosts the important parliamentary accountability conferences in Africa.

The General Assembly will also deliberate on WAAPAC’s organizational growth and governance. The conference is expected to close with country-specific action plans to strengthen parliamentary oversight of public debt across West Africa.

Delegates will include Members of Public Accounts and Finance Committees, Parliamentary Staff, and Auditors-General from across the region, as well as representatives from eSwatini, Kenya, South Africa, and sister parliamentary networks such as AFROPAC and SADCOPAC.

Meanwhile, the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees, Secretariat in Accra, Ghana, in a statement said it was established in 2009 following a World Bank Institute seminar in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and the Parliamentary Centre Legislatures from Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone which resolved to create a sub-regional body that would strengthen parliamentary accountability through peer learning, and knowledge sharing.