At the Financing for Development Conference in Seville, CISLAC Executive Director Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) calls for cancellation of illegitimate debts, democratisation of global financial institutions, and a bigger role for Nigeria’s lawmakers in monitoring loans and public spending.
Civil-Society Leader Demands Bold Action on Debt
The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and head of Transparency International Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), has appealed for the immediate cancellation of debts classed as odious or fraudulent. Speaking in Seville, Spain, at the Financing for Development Conference, he said such liabilities “shackle future generations and erode national sovereignty.”
Reform Global Finance, Empower Nigerian Lawmakers
Rafsanjani argued that international lenders—including the IMF and World Bank—remain dominated by wealthy nations and require urgent democratisation. He urged African legislators to:
Approve and monitor all borrowing
Scrutinise debt contracts for transparency
Track how funds are spent to ensure equity
> “Parliaments must never be sidelined,” he emphasised. “Their constitutional mandate is to protect citizens by guaranteeing that public and borrowed funds are used responsibly.”
Clamp Down on Tax Loopholes and Illicit Flows
Calling taxation the “lifeblood of sustainable development,” CISLAC pressed lawmakers to:
Close corporate tax loopholes
Publish beneficial-ownership registers
Regulate professional enablers of tax evasion and money-laundering
These measures, Rafsanjani said, would keep more resources at home to fund health, education and climate projects.
Align with Global Debt-Justice Campaigns
The statement endorsed Christian Aid’s push for UK legislation that would limit private creditors’ lawsuits against sovereign states and backed Oxfam and Tax Justice Africa’s demand for a UN-led debt workout mechanism. CISLAC also joined calls to end fossil-fuel subsidies that intensify climate risk for vulnerable communities.
Next Steps for Nigeria
The conference continues with high-level talks on debt justice, climate finance and tax equity. Rafsanjani urged the Nigerian government to adopt the summit’s resolutions in full—*with civil-society participation—*to ensure transparency and impact.
> “We are in Seville for a fairer financial system,” he said. “Nigeria must seize this moment to strengthen legislative oversight, cancel illegitimate debts, and finance the Sustainable Development Goals for the benefit of every citizen.”
