The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abubakar Sulaiman, has charged commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to embrace transparency, data-driven decision-making, and strategic leadership to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal governance framework.
Sulaiman gave the charge on Monday at the opening of a capacity-building programme for commissioners of the Commission held at the NILDS complex, noting that ongoing economic and fiscal reforms demand higher levels of competence, innovation, and integrity from key actors in the nation’s fiscal system.
Describing the Commission as central to national development, he said its constitutional responsibilities—ranging from monitoring accruals into the Federation Account to advising on revenue allocation—place it at the core of Nigeria’s growth process.
“The effectiveness of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism rests significantly on the strength, foresight, and integrity of this Commission,” he stated.
The DG also conveyed the goodwill of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, stressing that Nigeria is navigating far-reaching fiscal reforms aimed at stabilising public finance, boosting revenue generation, and improving transparency.
He identified key challenges confronting the reforms, including revenue volatility, competing interests among sub-national governments, and increasing public demand for accountability.
“It is within this context that the role of Commissioners becomes even more critical.
You are not only custodians of fiscal equity, but also key actors in fostering intergovernmental harmony, strengthening public trust, and ensuring that revenue allocation decisions are guided by data, fairness, and national interest,” he said.
Sulaiman explained that the training programme was designed to equip participants with practical tools for improved revenue tracking, conflict resolution, stakeholder engagement, and results-oriented management.
“We expect that at the end of this engagement, you will be better positioned to translate strategic vision into measurable outcomes, strengthen collaboration with critical stakeholders, and drive institutional reforms that will enhance efficiency, transparency, and public confidence,” he added.
He reaffirmed NILDS’ commitment as the knowledge management arm of the National Assembly to building institutional capacity for democratic governance and sustainable development, noting that strong institutions are anchored on effective leadership.
In a complementary address, Chairman of the Committee on National Assembly Liaison and Special Duties of the Commission, Abdulazeez Idris King, said the training was designed to address urgent capacity gaps and reposition the Commission for improved efficiency.
He noted that the programme targets both newly appointed commissioners and existing staff with expanded responsibilities, serving as both an orientation and refresher to align them with institutional expectations.
“This programme was conceived in recognition of the urgent need to strengthen institutional capacity and ensure that both Members and Staff are adequately equipped to meet the demands of their roles in an increasingly complex administrative environment,” he said.
According to him, the training will focus on key areas such as legislative engagement, intergovernmental relations, and execution of special assignments—critical components for professionalism and operational efficiency.
Participants are expected to engage with experts over the three-day programme through practical sessions aimed at enhancing performance and service delivery.
He urged attendees to actively participate, share experiences, and maximise the learning opportunity, expressing confidence that the programme would lead to improved competence, professionalism, and renewed commitment to public service.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional effectiveness and deepen fiscal governance amid Nigeria’s evolving economic landscape.
