The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, has engaged with a delegation from the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on a working mission to Nigeria.
Sen. Akume expressed the Nigerian government’s commitment to reinforcing the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) and safeguarding the governance structure of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) from political interference.
During the meeting, the SGF assured the delegation that urgent measures were underway for the prompt reconstitution of the NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group.
Emphasizing the importance of aligning NEITI operations with the EITI Standards, Sen. Akume pledged to ensure that the quality of the working group’s membership reflects global EITI expectations.
“In this direction, I wish to announce to you that the Federal Government will constitute the NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group without further delay. In constituting the NEITI Board, we will take into consideration the peculiar nature of NEITI operations, adhere to the EITI Standards, and ensure that the quality of its membership reflects the expectations of the global EITI,” stated the SGF.
Sen. Akume further assured the delegation of the government’s unwavering support for NEITI, emphasizing the facilitation of robust consultations and decision-making processes to effectively implement the NEITI mandate and uphold the EITI Standards.
“We have also found NEITI reports to be very useful in the areas of revenue generation, resource mobilization, blocking leakages in the system, and a dependable data resource in the country’s sustained war against corruption,” added the SGF.
The commitment expressed by Sen. George Akume underscores Nigeria’s dedication to transparency, accountability, and adherence to international standards in the management of its extractive industries.
The global EITI delegation welcomed these assurances as positive steps towards ensuring the effectiveness of NEITI’s governance structure and its continued contribution to Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
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