Media-Civil Society Synergy Vital for Public Debt Oversight, Says NUJ FCT Council Chairman
By Comfort Chukwukelue
Abuja — The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Comrade Grace Ike, has called for deeper collaboration between the media, civil society organizations, and parliament to strengthen oversight of public debt and improve accountability in Nigeria.
Speaking on Tuesday at the ongoing 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West African Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC), organized by the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, Ike underscored the critical role of journalists as watchdogs of democracy.
“The media acts as an intermediary between parliament, government institutions and the public,” she said. “Public awareness is necessary, and how can we achieve this if not through information sharing and capacity building?”
Ike stressed that without the active involvement of journalists, the oversight work of parliamentary committees such as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) would have limited impact. She called for training and retraining of reporters to strengthen their understanding of audit processes, debt management, and the technical aspects of legislative oversight.
To achieve this, she proposed periodic workshops, roundtables, and joint briefings with Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and civil society groups to improve the quality of reporting. While commending PAC Chairman Hon. Bamidele Salam for working closely with the media, she urged further efforts to build journalists’ technical expertise.
According to her, a comprehensive training program for journalists covering the parliament should be organized before the end of the 10th Assembly. She also highlighted the importance of investigative and undercover journalism in exposing corruption and mismanagement, stressing that practitioners need adequate resources and specialized training.
“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,” Ike said.
She further called on SAIs and parliamentary committees to facilitate access to audit reports and debt data, noting that timely and simplified public information would enhance transparency. She also urged media and civil society organizations to embark on citizen sensitization campaigns to raise awareness about public debt and the people’s right to demand accountability.
“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.
Ike concluded by emphasizing that debt oversight must be seen as a shared responsibility. “One thing is to write reports and pass resolutions. Another is implementation. As gatekeepers of information, the media stands ready to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure citizens are empowered, public resources are protected, and sustainable development is achieved,” she said.
She expressed optimism that continued synergy between the Public Accounts Committee and the press would not only enhance transparency but also ensure Nigerians are better informed about how public debt is managed.
