Nigeria Hosts West Africa’s Largest Parliamentary Oversight Summit, as Reps Convene 11th WAAPAC Conference in Abuja.
By Raymond Enoch
In a significant stride toward promoting transparency and fiscal discipline across West Africa, Nigeria’s House of Representatives is playing host to the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC), which begins today in Abuja.
In a statement signed by Representative Akin Rotimi Jr., Spokesman of the House of Representatives, the conference is themed “Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight of Public Debt: The Role of Finance and Public Accounts Committees” and will run until Friday, September 12, 2025. The event brings together lawmakers, auditors-general, finance experts, and parliamentary staff from across West Africa and beyond.
Delegates from countries including eSwatini, Kenya, and South Africa, along with representatives of continental oversight networks such as AFROPAC and SADCOPAC, are expected to participate. The conference aims to foster knowledge exchange, build institutional capacity, and shape sustainable debt governance frameworks.
The conference would be declared open by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, at the House’s Temporary Chamber, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, at 9:00 a.m. today. Daily sessions will follow throughout the week at the same venue.
Speaking ahead of the event, Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, emphasized Nigeria’s pride in hosting the gathering:
> “Nigeria is pleased to be hosting WAAPAC in Abuja this year. It is an opportunity to showcase our country while convening one of the most impactful sub-regional conferences on parliamentary oversight in the world.
It will be an avenue for learning and engagement among committees, and an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences.”
The General Assembly will address debt trends, legislative oversight in public finance, and strategies for sustainable debt management. The conference is expected to conclude with country-specific action plans tailored to enhancing fiscal accountability and strengthening parliamentary oversight mechanisms.
As Africa watches, Nigeria positions itself at the center of continental efforts to ensure responsible public finance, institutional transparency, and collaborative governance.
