Gbajabiamila Promises Support For NEITI Act Review, Increased Funding
By Juliet Ukanwosu
The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, has promised the Federal Government’s support to expand the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) implementation in Nigeria.
Mr. Gbajabiamila restated the commitment when he visited the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) House in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Chief of Staff, while commending NEITI on its laudable work, promised that the federal government will support with the review of the NEITI Act 2007 to reflect current realities as well as ensure increased funding to the agency.
Gbajabiamila was accompanied on the visit by the Permanent Secretary, State House, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff) Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, and other key Presidential aides.
In his remarks, he said “The role of NEITI can’t be overstated, it represents the backbone of the extractive industry in Nigeria. NEITI has fulfilled its mandate to a very large extent by plugging holes in the extractive industry.”
While admitting that a lot more needs to be done to support NEITI in the discharge of its mandate, especially in terms of equipping the NEITI House and reviewing the existing law, he commended the agency for scoring 72percent out of 100 in the last EITI Validation exercise given that Nigeria was validated virtually at an election period, and at a time when NEITI had no governing Board in place.
Assuring of government support to address challenges facing the agency, he said “I am here to know what you do, how you do it, what your challenges are and how government can make it easier for you.”
Mr. Gbajabiamila was conducted on a tour of NEITI’s state-of-the-art Data Center, where he was shown the technological advancements and data management systems that are critical to the organization’s operations.
Remarking, Mr. Gbajabiamila commended NEITI for its unwavering dedication to promoting transparency in the extractive sector and ensuring that Nigeria’s natural resources are managed in a way that benefits all Nigerians.
“We recognize the crucial work that NEITI is doing to bring transparency and accountability to Nigeria’s extractive industries. The federal government is fully committed to providing the necessary funding and resources to ensure that NEITI’s work continues to impact the nation positively,” he stated.
The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, in his response expressed appreciation for the Chief of Staff’s visit and the government’s ongoing support to NEITI, noting that NEITI’s success in promoting transparency and accountability is largely dependent on the political will and backing of the government.
Extractive360 reports that the visit marks a significant step in the government’s efforts to bolster transparency and good governance in Nigeria’s extractive industries. As NEITI continues to lead the charge in promoting accountability, the federal government’s support will be instrumental in ensuring that the benefits of Nigeria’s natural resources are equitably distributed among all Nigerians.
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