CISLAC, Christian Aid Demand Debt Cancellation, Global Finance Reform at Sevilla Conference
Maryam Aminu
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and Christian Aid have jointly called for the cancellation of illegitimate debts, reforms in global financial institutions, and stronger legislative involvement in Nigeria’s development financing.
Speaking at the Financing for Development Conference in Sevilla, the Executive Director of CISLAC and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), emphasized the need for African lawmakers to play a central role in financial decision-making.
“Legislators must not be sidelined. They have the constitutional mandate to approve budgets, loans, and monitor debt use,” Rafsanjani stated, urging deeper oversight to ensure public funds are used transparently and equitably.
CISLAC strongly advocated for the cancellation of debts incurred without public consent, labelling them “unjust” and detrimental to national development.
The organisation echoed Christian Aid’s call on the UK government to curb legal avenues that allow private creditors to sue sovereign nations like Nigeria. It also supported mandatory private creditor participation in debt restructuring through a UN-led mechanism.
The statement aligned with advocacy from Oxfam and the Tax Justice Network Africa, pushing for greater concessional funding from wealthy nations and an end to climate-damaging fossil fuel subsidies.
On taxation, Rafsanjani urged legislators to close loopholes, curb illicit financial flows, and improve tax compliance among multinational corporations and Nigeria’s wealthy elite. He also stressed the importance of public access to beneficial ownership registers and stricter oversight of professionals who enable tax evasion and money laundering.
Calling for more inclusive global financial governance, Rafsanjani criticized the dominance of institutions like the IMF and World Bank by powerful nations. “We need a financial system where African voices count,” he said, emphasizing the role of parliaments in holding both domestic and global institutions accountable.
He urged the Nigerian government to implement resolutions from the conference with full stakeholder participation to ensure meaningful outcomes.
The ongoing Sevilla conference features high-level discussions on debt justice, climate finance, and tax equity, with active participation from African civil society, legislators, and global development partners. The delegation is led by Transparency International CEO, Maíra Martini, who is advocating for transparent and accountable debt frameworks to safeguard public resources.
