By Helen Udo, Abuja -NIGERIA.
Nigeria has called for stronger fiscal discipline, institutional accountability, and full implementation of audit recommendations across African Union (AU) organs.
The call was made by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, while delivering Nigeria’s statement on the Report of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) at the 48th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council.
The Minister cautioned against the expansion of personnel numbers without corresponding improvements in measurable output, noting that such growth could undermine institutional efficiency.
He also raised concerns about discrepancies in financial records, violations of procurement and contracting procedures, and the slow recovery of loans and advance payments within AU institutions.
Ambassador Tuggar urged the Executive Council to adopt a clear and binding timeline for the full implementation of all outstanding audit recommendations, stressing that accountability must be applied without exception. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening transparency and institutional integrity within the Union.
On multilateral cooperation, Nigeria endorsed the application of the Banjul Formula in upcoming Africa,India and Africa–Türkiye partnerships to ensure coordinated continental positions.
The Minister also highlighted pressing humanitarian concerns, drawing attention to the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and vulnerable populations, particularly in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions.
Addressing migration and economic integration, Nigeria cautioned against third-country arrangements that externalize migrant processing, warning that such frameworks could undermine the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and efforts to end statelessness.
He welcomed progress under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and stressed the urgency of appointing a Head of Division for Digital Trade within the Secretariat to advance Africa’s digital trade agenda.
