By Mercy Aikoye
The media plays a vital role in holding public officials accountable for public debt management. Comrade Grace Ike, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, emphasized this point at the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC).
Ike stressed that 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 asked. The media’s role in promoting transparency and accountability is crucial in ensuring that public debt is managed effectively.
Ike proposed periodic workshops, roundtables, and joint briefings with Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and civil society groups to improve the quality of reporting. “We need to train journalists who can confidently carry out undercover reporting on public accounts and debt management,” she said.
Ike urged SAIs and parliamentary committees to facilitate access to audit reports and data. “Timely, simplified, and publicly available information would improve transparency and accountability,” she emphasized.
Ike concluded that effective oversight of public debt must be seen as a collective responsibility involving the parliament, civil society, and the media. “One thing is to write reports and pass resolutions. Another is implementation,” she said.
The NUJ FCT Chairman also called for joint sensitization campaigns to educate citizens about public debt, its implications, and their right to demand accountability from government. “Most people do not even know they have the right to demand accountability,” she said.
The partnership between the media, civil society, and parliament is essential in promoting transparency and accountability in public debt management. By working together, they can ensure that citizens are empowered, public resources are protected, and sustainable development is achieved.
