Abuja: The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Shamsudeen Ogunjimi, has called for the deployment of technology to proactively monitor financial management in real-time to ensure transparency and institutional discipline. Ogunjimi made the call in Abuja at the ongoing 2025 National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance, organized by the Senate and House of Representatives Public Accounts Committees.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the theme of the conference is ‘Fiscal Governance in Nigeria: Charting a New Course for Transparency and Sustainable Development.’ Ogunjimi emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s public financial management system from delayed, post-mortem audits to proactive, real-time transparency backed by technology, aligning with global best practices. He highlighted the urgent necessity to entrench accountability, fiscal prudence, and efficiency in managing public resources, especially amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Ogunjimi stated that every mismanaged or wasted Naira could have been invested in essential sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, or security. He stressed that fiscal governance is a national imperative, not just an administrative responsibility, and advocated for a culture where accountability is mandatory, public officials are held to high standards, and decisions about public resources prioritize the well-being of future generations. He praised the conference organizers, describing it as a vital platform for advancing Nigeria’s transparency, accountability, and responsible governance goals. Ogunjimi assured that the office of the Accountant-General is committed to accountability, prudent resource use, and timely financial reporting in line with international standards and global best practices.

In his remarks, Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr. Shaakaa Chira, emphasized the importance of translating the conference’s outcomes into concrete, actionable reforms. He called for transparency and accountability to be institutionalized as national values across all sectors. Chira noted that the conference comes at a critical time when nations, including Nigeria, face complex economic challenges such as rising public debt, food insecurity, inflation, and increased public demand for transparency and fiscal responsibility. He urged stakeholders, including policymakers, legislators, auditors, civil society actors, academia, and development partners, to fully support the conference resolutions and commit to their implementation.