CISLAC Demands Debt Cancellation and Global Financial Reform to Engender Nigeria’s Development at FfD4
By Raymond Enoch
At the Financing for Development Conference in Sevilla, Spain, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and head of Transparency International Nigeria, made a powerful call for urgent debt cancellation, reform of global financial institutions, and stronger legislative oversight in Nigeria’s development financing.
Rafsanjani highlighted the crippling effects of illegitimate debts—incurred without public consent—and urged their total cancellation to protect national sovereignty and future generations. He emphasized that African lawmakers must not be sidelined but actively involved in approving budgets, monitoring debt agreements, and ensuring transparency in public spending.
Echoing demands from global partners like Christian Aid and Oxfam, Rafsanjani advocated for legal limits on private creditor lawsuits in UK courts, mandatory creditor participation in debt renegotiations, and increased concessional financing from wealthy nations. He also stressed the need for tax reforms to close loopholes, combat illicit financial flows, and enforce greater financial integrity.
On a global scale, Rafsanjani called for democratizing institutions like the IMF and World Bank, demanding inclusive representation that values African voices and grants legislatures real oversight powers.
The conference, featuring African civil society, parliamentary representatives, and international advocates, aims to push for fairer debt justice, climate finance, and economic reforms critical for achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria and beyond.
Rafsanjani urged the Nigerian government to fully implement the conference’s resolutions with broad stakeholder participation, underscoring the collective fight for a transparent, accountable, and equitable financial system that prioritizes the welfare of the people.
“This is a fight for fairness, transparency, and sustainable development—our future depends on it,” Rafsanjani concluded.
