General News
SPC Workshop to Spotlight Legislative Oversight, Media Collaboration
The 2026 Capacity-Building Workshop of the Senate Press Corps (SPC) will focus on strengthening legislative oversight and media collaboration as mechanisms for safeguarding Nigeria’s national budget from unlawful insertions and other practices capable of undermining budgetary integrity.
This was contained in a statement by the Chairman of the Corps, Taiye Odewale and made available to Journalists in Abuja
The workshop, scheduled to hold on Monday, September 28, will have as its theme: “Leveraging Legislative Oversight and Media Collaboration to Safeguard the National Budget from Unlawful Insertions.”
The organisers said the theme was carefully chosen in view of the critical role of effective legislative oversight, responsible journalism and public accountability in ensuring that the national budget reflects approved priorities and serves the broader interests of Nigerians.
To provide participants with expert perspectives on the subject, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani; Director of BudgIT, Oluseun Onigbinde; and Publisher of Eagle Times Newspaper, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, have been invited to make presentations on relevant aspects of the workshop theme.
The workshop will also feature an intensive training session on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, to be facilitated by London-based instructors from Mass Media TX Limited.
According to the organisers, the AI session is designed to expose participants to emerging technologies and their practical applications in contemporary media and professional practice.
The event is also expected to bring together key stakeholders from the National Assembly and the National Assembly bureaucracy, with invitations extended to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio (GCON); Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (CFR); and Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu.
Others are Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Olamilekan Adeola; Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa; Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Kawu Sumaila; and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana.
The organisers said the participation of lawmakers, budget experts, civil society advocates, media professionals and technology instructors would provide a platform for robust discussions on budget transparency, legislative scrutiny and the role of the media in promoting accountability.
The workshop is expected to examine practical approaches to strengthening the budget process, improving oversight mechanisms and enhancing collaboration between legislative institutions and the media in the public interest.
The organisers expressed optimism that the capacity-building initiative would contribute to improved understanding of budgetary processes and promote stronger professional engagement around issues of transparency, accountability and responsible public expenditure.
The 2026 Capacity-Building Workshop will take place at Hearing Room 231 on Monday.
