Nigeria Calls for Stronger Accountability, Institutional Reform at AU Executive Council

Nigeria has called for enhanced fiscal discipline, institutional accountability, and the timely implementation of audit recommendations across organs of the African Union (AU).

The call was made by the 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 Executive Council of the African Union.
Ambassador Tuggar stressed that increasing personnel numbers without corresponding improvements in measurable output could weaken institutional efficiency. He expressed concern over discrepancies in financial records, breaches of procurement and contracting regulations, and the low recovery rate of loans and advance payments within AU institutions.

He urged the Executive Council to adopt a definitive timeline for the full implementation of all outstanding audit recommendations, emphasising that accountability must be enforced without exception.

On multilateral partnerships, Nigeria endorsed the application of the Banjul Formula in upcoming Africa–India and Africa–Türkiye engagements, highlighting the importance of presenting unified and coordinated continental positions in global negotiations.
Addressing humanitarian challenges, the Minister drew attention to the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and other vulnerable populations, calling for increased focus on the Sahel and Lake Chad regions.
Regarding migration, Nigeria cautioned against third-country arrangements that externalise migrant processing, warning that such mechanisms could undermine the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as the AU’s broader objective of ending statelessness on the continent.
He also welcomed ongoing progress under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while stressing the need to urgently fill the vacant position of Head of Division for Digital Trade within the AfCFTA Secretariat to advance digital commerce initiatives.
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to principled multilateral engagement, institutional reform, and the strengthening of a transparent, accountable, and effective African Union.
The statement was signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, ANIPR, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.