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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Senate Press Corps (SPC) is set to bring together key stakeholders in the budget process on Monday for a capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening legislative oversight and media scrutiny to curb unlawful insertions and other practices that undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s national budget.
Scheduled for September 28 at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, it will focus on the theme, “Leveraging Legislative Oversight and Media Collaboration to Safeguard the National Budget from Unlawful Insertions.”
According to the organisers, in a statement signed by the press corps chairman, Taiye Odewale, on Friday, the theme was chosen against the backdrop of the need to strengthen oversight, responsible journalism and public accountability in ensuring that the national budget reflects approved priorities and serves the wider interests of Nigerians.
The workshop is expected to attract lawmakers, budget experts, civil society advocates, journalists and officials of the National Assembly bureaucracy for discussions on budget transparency, legislative scrutiny and responsible public expenditure.
Presenting papers are the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, 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 organisers said the presentations would provide participants with expert perspectives on budgetary processes, legislative oversight, accountability and the role of the media in monitoring public expenditure.
It will also feature a training session on Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, to be facilitated by London-based instructors from Mass Media TX Limited.
According to the organisers, the session is designed to expose journalists to emerging technologies and their practical applications in contemporary media practice.
Also expected at the event are President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin; and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu.
Others invited include Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Olamilekan Adeola; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Kawu Sumaila; and Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana.
The SPC said the initiative would strengthen participants’ understanding of the budget process while promoting professional engagement between the legislature and the media on transparency, accountability and public expenditure.
It added that the workshop would explore practical approaches to improving the budget process and oversight mechanisms, as well as strengthening collaboration between legislative institutions and the media in the public interest.
