Nigeria has called for stricter fiscal discipline, stronger institutional accountability, and the immediate implementation of outstanding audit recommendations across organs of the African Union (AU), warning that inefficiencies threaten the credibility and effectiveness of the continental body.
The call was made by Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who led Nigeria’s delegation to the 48th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU.
Delivering Nigeria’s statement on the Report of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC), Tuggar cautioned against the unchecked expansion of personnel within AU institutions without corresponding improvements in performance.
“Expanding personnel numbers without measurable improvements in output risks weakening institutional efficiency,” he said, stressing that reforms must prioritise productivity and value for money.
The minister expressed concern over discrepancies in financial records within AU organs, violations of procurement and contracting rules, as well as the low rate of recovery of loans and advance payments.
He urged the Council to adopt a clear and binding timeline for the full implementation of all outstanding audit recommendations, insisting that no exceptions should be made.
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On multilateral engagement, Nigeria threw its weight behind the application of the Banjul Formula in upcoming Africa–India and Africa–Türkiye partnerships, noting that coordinated continental positions remain critical in strengthening Africa’s voice in global diplomacy.
Tuggar also drew attention to the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and other vulnerable populations across the continent.
He called for increased focus on crisis-hit areas, particularly the Sahel and the Lake Chad regions, which continue to face security challenges and humanitarian pressures.
On migration governance, Nigeria cautioned against third-country arrangements that externalise migrant processing, warning that such frameworks could undermine protections guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and weaken the AU’s efforts to eliminate statelessness across the continent.
The minister also welcomed progress recorded under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a cornerstone of Africa’s economic transformation.
However, he stressed the urgency of filling the vacant Head of Division for Digital Trade position within the Secretariat to ensure momentum in digital commerce reforms is sustained.
