The Senate Press Corps (SPC) will on Monday, September 28, in Abuja, hold its 2026 Capacity-Building Workshop, focusing on legislative oversight, media collaboration and budgetary integrity.
The workshop, themed, “Leveraging Legislative Oversight and Media Collaboration to Safeguard the National Budget from Unlawful Insertions,” will examine ways of protecting Nigeria’s national budget from unlawful insertions and other practices that could undermine the integrity of the budget process.
According to the organisers, the theme reflects the importance of effective legislative oversight, responsible journalism and public accountability in ensuring that the national budget reflects approved priorities and serves the broader interests of Nigerians.
The workshop will feature presentations by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani; Director of BudgIT, Oluseun Onigbinde; and Publisher of Eagle Times Newspaper, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere.
The speakers are expected to provide perspectives on budget transparency, legislative scrutiny, accountability and the role of the media in strengthening public oversight.
The event will also feature an intensive training session on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, facilitated by London-based instructors from Mass Media TX Limited.
The organisers said the AI session would expose participants to emerging technologies and their practical applications in contemporary journalism and professional media practice.
Key stakeholders from the National Assembly and its bureaucracy are also expected to participate in the workshop.
Those invited include the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin; Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Olamilekan Adeola; Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa; Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Kawu Sumaila; and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana.
The SPC said the participation of lawmakers, budget experts, civil society advocates, media professionals and technology instructors would provide an opportunity for discussions on budget transparency, legislative oversight and media accountability.
It added that the workshop would examine practical approaches to strengthening the budget process, improving oversight mechanisms and enhancing collaboration between legislative institutions and the media in the public interest.
The organisers expressed optimism that the capacity-building initiative would deepen participants’ understanding of budgetary processes and promote stronger professional engagement on transparency, accountability and responsible public expenditure.
