President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s firm resolve to combat inflation and drive economic reform by reinforcing fiscal discipline and encouraging greater public involvement in governance.
The president’s remarks came on Monday during the opening of the National Conference on Fiscal Governance, Transparency, and Accountability, held in Abuja.
Organized by the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly, the three-day summit drew stakeholders from across government, civil society, and the international community.
Although President Tinubu did not attend in person, his address was delivered by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, who outlined the administration’s fiscal roadmap.
“Our financial institutions must be strengthened. We are focused on deepening transparency, improving accountability mechanisms, and modernizing our systems with digital finance tools,” Uzoka-Anite said on Tinubu’s behalf.
Among the key measures highlighted were support for the Office of the Auditor-General, reforms in public procurement to curb corruption, and expanded use of digital technologies to track public spending.
Tinubu emphasized that transparency is non-negotiable in governance.
“Every naira must be accounted for. Wasteful spending must stop, and oversight must be seen as a national duty, not a political weapon,” he noted.
The president also pointed to inflation as a major hurdle to economic stability, attributing it to underlying structural issues such as inefficiencies in food production and supply chain disruptions.
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He called on civil society, the media, and everyday Nigerians to take a more active role in governance.
“A participatory democracy is the best defense against mismanagement. It’s time for citizens to demand answers and engage constructively,” Tinubu urged.
On the international front, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, represented by William Robinson, commended Nigeria’s recent reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and the ongoing tax policy overhaul.
Robinson stressed the UK’s continued support but noted that success hinges on Nigeria’s willingness to embrace openness and innovation.
“Technology and transparency are the future of public finance. Nigeria has taken bold steps, but consistent citizen engagement will determine the outcome,” he said.
The conference continues this week with sessions focused on anti-corruption strategies, digital transformation, and budget transparency.