Media practitioners and Civil Society Organizations have been urged to deepen their engagement in budget literacy and tax justice to promote transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public finance system.
The charge was given by Tunde Salman of the Good Governance Team Nigeria, a resource person with the Tax Justice Advocacy Network, at a one-day Capacity Building Workshop on Budget Analysis and Tracking for members of the Tax Justice and Governance Platform in Abuja.
The workshop was jointly organized by Social Action (Social Development Integrated Centre) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), with support from Christian Aid Nigeria.
Delivering a paper, Salman underscored the importance of budget literacy in strengthening fiscal governance.
He explained that the budget cycle from preparation by the Ministries of Finance and Planning to approval by the Executive Council and legislative scrutiny offers critical entry points for non-state actors to influence public spending in line with citizens’ priorities.
He identified persistent challenges in Nigeria’s budget process, including delays, overlapping fiscal years and what he described as “frivolous expenditures” by legislators, noting that these issues undermine transparency, accountability and effective implementation.
Salman also called for the modernization of Nigeria’s audit framework, stressing that existing laws dating back to 1959 are no longer fit for purpose.
On tax justice, Salman said Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains low due to overdependence on oil revenues and weak tax collection in the formal sector.
He criticised misinformation around tax reforms and advocated progressive taxation that places a greater burden on wealthy individuals rather than the poor.
“Government must use tax revenue judiciously, fight corruption and ensure that taxes serve the public good,” he said, adding that citizen education and improved revenue collection efficiency are essential to achieving equitable tax justice.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of Social Action, Isaac Botti, highlighted the strong link between procurement, budgeting, and corruption in public service. He stressed that effective anti-corruption efforts require a clear understanding of the budget and the capacity to track public resources.
“You cannot get rid of procurement corruption if you do not understand the budget document or have the capacity to track it,” Botti said.
He noted that the workshop was designed to equip participants to monitor the use of tax revenues and ensure that public funds translate into tangible services for citizens.
Botti also emphasized the critical role of the media in exposing corruption and raising public awareness on governance issues, urging participants to amplify the concept of “tax for service.”
Participants are expected to acquire practical skills in budget analysis and tracking, which they can replicate within their organizations and communities to strengthen citizen engagement in fiscal governance.
(Independent)
