The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Comrade Grace Ike, has called for stronger collaboration between the media, civil society organisations and parliament to enhance oversight of public debt and deepen accountability in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC), organised by the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, Ike underscored the vital role of the press as society’s mirror and a watchdog in holding public officials accountable.
She stressed that parliamentary committees, including the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), cannot achieve their full impact without the active engagement of journalists.
“The media acts as an intermediary between parliament, government institutions and the public. Public awareness is necessary, and how can we achieve this if not through information sharing and capacity building?” she said.
The NUJ Chairman emphasised the importance of continuous training and retraining of journalists to deepen their knowledge of audit processes, public debt management, and the technical aspects of legislative oversight. She recommended periodic workshops, roundtables, and joint briefings with Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and civil society groups to improve the quality and accuracy of reporting.
While commending the Chairman of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Bamidele Salam, for his efforts in engaging with the media, Ike maintained that further improvement was necessary. She suggested that before the end of the 10th Assembly, a comprehensive training session should be organised for parliamentary correspondents to strengthen their capacity on debt and oversight issues.
Highlighting the significance of investigative and undercover journalism, Ike noted that journalists require adequate resources and specialised training to expose corruption and mismanagement of public resources.
“Investigative journalism is not easy. It requires funding, time and skills. We need to train journalists who can confidently carry out undercover reporting on public accounts and debt management. This will ensure we provide accurate information, not misinformation, at a time when fake news dominates social media,” she said.
She also urged SAIs and parliamentary committees to improve access to audit reports and financial data, insisting that timely and simplified public information would enhance transparency and accountability.
According to her, the media and CSOs also share the responsibility of sensitising citizens about public debt, its implications, and their right to demand accountability from the government.
“Most people do not even know they have the right to demand accountability. It is the duty of the media to remind citizens of this right and to hold those in power to their promises,” she added.
The NUJ Chair further called for advocacy on legislative and policy reforms to strengthen parliamentary oversight of debt. She argued that by publicising both progress and challenges, the media could stimulate civic engagement and drive reforms.
She concluded that effective debt oversight is a shared responsibility of parliament, civil society, and the media.
“One thing is to write reports and pass resolutions; another is implementation. As gatekeepers of information, the media stand ready to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure citizens are empowered, public resources are protected, and sustainable development is achieved,” Ike said.
She expressed optimism that continued synergy between the Public Accounts Committee and the press would not only enhance transparency but also ensure that Nigerians are better informed about the management of public debt.