The House of Representatives has welcomed the election of Rep. Bamidele Salam, the lawmaker representing Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency, as Secretary-General of the African Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (AFROPAC).
Salam, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, was elected at the conclusion of the organisation’s conference in Accra, Ghana.
His election is historic, as he is the first Nigerian to be elected to the strategic position within the continental body.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi, the House said the election reflects growing recognition across Africa of the contributions of Nigeria’s Public Accounts Committee to strengthening legislative oversight, promoting public financial accountability and advancing institutional integrity.
Under Salam’s leadership, the committee has recorded notable achievements in the discharge of its constitutional mandate, particularly in the recovery of public funds and the promotion of accountability in public financial management.
Since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly, the committee has facilitated the recovery of over ₦200 billion in unremitted royalties and taxes from oil and gas companies.
The House has also considered and adopted reports submitted by the committee, reinforcing the effectiveness of its oversight interventions.
Beyond its core mandate, the committee has advanced institutional reforms, digitalised its hearings and internal operations, and introduced a dedicated magazine to promote transparency, document its activities and enhance public access to its work.
It has also expanded Nigeria’s regional parliamentary engagement through the hosting of major conferences. In 2025, it convened the National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance in collaboration with the Senate Public Accounts Committee.
It also hosted the 11th Regional Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC), marking the first time Nigeria hosted the regional gathering.
Established in Tanzania in 2013, AFROPAC brings together Public Accounts Committees and similar parliamentary bodies across Africa to promote transparency, accountability and sound public financial management through capacity building, peer learning and institutional collaboration.
The House said Salam’s election provides a valuable platform for extending Nigeria’s experience in legislative oversight to the continental stage, deepening cooperation among African legislatures and strengthening collective efforts to advance public accountability across the continent.
It acknowledged the leadership and support of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, in providing an enabling environment for the committee’s work and advancing the 10th Assembly’s legislative oversight and institutional reform agenda.
The House appreciated the confidence reposed in Salam by his colleagues across Africa and wished him a successful and impactful tenure.
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