Scrutiny of Finance Laws: Senators Enrich Control Mechanisms

Within the framework of improving the capacities of legislators in the control of government action, especially through the scrutiny of Finance Laws, an exchange forum between the Senate and the Supreme Court took place on November 21, 2025. It was under the theme, “The Certification Report of the General Account of the State as a Tool to Support Parliamentary Scrutiny of Finance Laws.” The forum was co-presided by the Vice President of the Senate, Robert Nkili on behalf of the Senate President, and the President of the Audit Bench of the Supreme Court, Yap Abdou. Going by the General Instruction on State accounting, Certification is a written and reasoned opinion formulated by the Audit Bench, under its own responsibility, regarding the quality of the accounts produced by the State. It involves collecting all necessary and adequate evidence to obtain reasonable assurance that the State’s accounts comply with applicable accounting rules and principles. Certification is therefore a crucial mechanism for ensuring the credibility of financial information and enabling Parliament to exercise effective oversight of public finances. The exchange forum comes after the examination of the Settlement Bill for 2024 and will thus reinforce the capacities of Senators in analyzing the State budget for 2026. According to the Senate Vice President, the 22nd exchange forum, like the previous ones, permits Senators to acquire necessary knowledge which is an asset for them to carry out their functions, especially as it concerns the control of government action. The forum, the legislator said, constitutes an important element in ensuring budget equilibrium both in income and expenditure, all for the wellbeing of citizens. With the current indigenous and exogenous stakes, the Vice President said it is fundamental for Senators to master the intricacies o...