By Juliet Ukanwosu
As part of follow-up actions to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) delegation visit to Nigeria in January this year, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has developed a corrective action plan to address the issues identified in the validation report.
Addressing the media in Abuja on Wednesday, Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, disclosed that the corrective action plan has been shared with the EITI International Secretariat, outlining concrete steps to enhance Nigeria’s implementation of the EITI Standard.
Extractive360 reports that Nigeria scored 72 out of 100 points in the last validation, with stakeholders’ engagement and Audit report timeliness identified as specific areas for improvement.
Dr. Orji explained that Nigeria’s corrective actions would focus on Stakeholders’ engagement which include Requirement 1.1- Government Engagement, Requirement 1.2-Company Engagement, Requirement 1.3-Civil Society Engagement, Requirement 1.4- MSG Governance, Requirement 2.2-Contracts and license allocations, Requirement 2.3- License Register and Requirement 2.4- Contracts.
Orji stated that with the re-constitution of the NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) also known as the NEITI Board, by President Bola Tinubu, the strategy on improving stakeholders’ engagement has yielded very positive results.
On Monday, President Tinubu announced the reconstitution of the 6th NEITI NSWG, with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator, George Akume, as Chairman and the NEITI ES as Secretary.
Other members include Executive Chairman, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji representing government; Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPCL, Mr. Mele Kyari representing Companies; Mr Oghene Gwueke Ajafia representing Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Lagos Chamber of Commerce; President, Miners Association of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Ayanleke; Engr. (Mrs) Nkechi Isigwe representing Women/ Geoscientist / Extractive Industries expert; and President, NUPENG, Comrade Willians Apkoreha.
Members representing the six geopolitical zones are Barr. Musa Abdullahi Lawan (North-West); Mr Abubakar Mu’azu (North-East); Amb. Mathew Sunday Adoli (North Central); Olasupo, Abdel –Jeleel Taiwo Adekunle (South-West); Chief Israel Ikechukwu Ikwuegbu (South East); and Dr. Stephen Leo Akpan (South-South), while the nominee to represent the civil society is still being awaited to emerge from the civil society self-nomination process in line with the EITI requirement.
“We now have the NSWG in place with the SGF chairing the NEITI Board, NEITI – Companies Forum now has a Deputy Chair and both the chair and his deputy have stepped up their engagements and support to the EITI process. I wish to clarify that it is a 15-member Board no more no less as provided by law. As Secretary to the Board and NEITI Executive Secretary/CEO, I remain on a 5year single term, no more no less as provided by law.” Dr. Orji stated.
“I want to reassure our stakeholders, international partners and the global EITI that no stone is being left unturned in ensuring that at the next validation, Nigeria scores the maximum points of 100 in its assessment,” he added.
On audit timeliness, he explained that NEITI has commenced the conduct of the 2022-2023 industry reports of the oil, gas and mining sectors, with two indigenous independent administrators conducting the exercise. “We have also set September, 2024, as the date for the completion of the reports. We have deployed our automated information-gathering infrastructure-NAMS for the conduct of the exercise,” he disclosed.
Other strategic plans NEITI is taking to address gaps identified in the last validation include the reconstitution of the NEITI Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) after about seven years, with high-ranking government officers, no less than a Director. The IMTT is saddled with implementing recommendations and findings of NEITI’s industry reports and deepen government oversight and reforms in the extractive sector.
Also, the agency is commencing the NEITI House Dialogue designed to be a quarterly policy engagement series, launch of the NEITI Data Centre, intensify its engagement with the National Assembly and public space as well as inter-agency collaboration, in addition to a remediation plan in line with its mission to institutionalize accountability mechanisms.