Nigeria has urged the African Union (AU) to strengthen fiscal discipline and deepen institutional reforms, warning that unchecked administrative expansion and weak accountability could undermine the effectiveness of the continental body.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, made the call at the 48th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council.
Presenting Nigeria’s position on the Report of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee, Tuggar stressed the need for full implementation of audit recommendations across all AU organs. He cautioned against increasing personnel without corresponding gains in productivity, noting that such an approach could weaken institutional efficiency.
The Minister expressed concern over persistent discrepancies in financial records, breaches of procurement rules, and the slow recovery of loans and advance payments within AU institutions.
He said the Executive Council must adopt a clear and definite timetable to resolve all outstanding audit queries.
On Africa’s external relations, Tuggar said Nigeria supports the continued use of the Banjul Formula in forthcoming Africa-India and Africa-Türkiye engagements, describing it as essential to ensuring a unified African position in multilateral negotiations.
He also highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation in parts of the continent, particularly the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, where conflict and climate-related shocks have displaced millions of people.
Tuggar called for increased attention and support for internally displaced persons, refugees and other vulnerable populations.
He further cautioned against third-country migration arrangements that relocate migrant processing outside Africa, warning that such frameworks could weaken existing human rights protections.
According to Tuggar, externalising migrant processing could undermine the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the AU’s efforts to end statelessness.
While welcoming progress under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Foreign Minister emphasised the need to urgently fill the vacant Head of Division for Digital Trade position to accelerate implementation.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a stronger, transparent and results-driven African Union anchored on principled multilateral cooperation.
