12/09/2026
Thursday, 10th September 2026, marked a significant step forward for legislative oversight of public debt management in Nigeria.
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), in partnership with the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF) and the International Budget Partnership (IBP), convened a Technical Workshop and inaugurated the Technical Joint Working Group (TJWG) on Public Debt Oversight under the Strengthening Accountability of Public Debt Management (SAPDM) Project.
The workshop introduced the Public Debt Management Assessment Tool (PDMAT 2.0), a framework developed by WFD to strengthen parliamentary oversight of public debt by assessing current practice against nine core dimensions, including debt transparency, legal framework, fiscal risk, and parliamentary ratification processes. With Nigeria's public debt stock standing at $114.95 billion (₦159.35 trillion) as of March 2026, the workshop highlighted the importance of structured, evidence-based legislative oversight.
The programme brought together legislators and technical staff from key debt-related committees, including Appropriations, Finance, Public Accounts, and Aids/Loans and Debt Management, alongside representatives from the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO), and the NASS Research Department.
The programme featured a participatory action approach, technical presentations, and a reflective session on current National Assembly public debt oversight practices. Discussions focused on strengthening institutional capacity and embedding PDMAT 2.0 into National Assembly processes, including through proposed amendments to the House Rules and Senate Standing Orders.
The event marked the beginning of a sustained partnership to embed evidence-based public debt oversight within the National Assembly's institutional processes.
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