The Executive Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Victor Muruako, Esq., reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to transparency, accountability, and collaboration with civil society organizations during a recent advocacy visit by the Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC) to his office in Abuja.
Led by Tijani Abdulkareem, SERDEC’s Executive Director, the visit aimed to strengthen engagement with institutions critical to promoting fiscal openness and responsible public financial management within the context of the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
During the meeting, SERDEC representatives highlighted the importance of the FRC’s role in enforcing fiscal discipline, monitoring public expenditure, and ensuring budget compliance. They emphasized the alignment between the Commission’s mandate and OGP commitments, and proposed collaboration on fiscal transparency initiatives. The NGO also presented strategic recommendations to enhance FRC’s public engagement and digital innovation.
In response, Chairman Muruako welcomed the opportunity for collaboration and expressed the Commission’s readiness to engage with SERDEC and similar organizations. He also noted FRC’s active involvement in anti-corruption efforts through its membership in the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reform (TUGAR).
Muruako further commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s fiscal reforms and voiced support for the push toward Local Government autonomy. However, he emphasized the need to first train local government officials in budgeting and fiscal responsibility to ensure effective implementation.
In conclusion, Muruako acknowledged the Commission’s broad mandate and the financial constraints it faces while fulfilling its responsibilities. He mentioned ongoing efforts to amend the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 to improve revenue generation into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The Chairman assured SERDEC of FRC’s openness to partnership and reiterated the Commission’s commitment to achieving their shared vision of open and accountable governance.
This visit signifies a crucial step toward strengthening collaboration between civil society and the government in advancing Nigeria’s fiscal governance and transparency agenda.
