President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of 15-member board of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) National Stakeholders’ Working Group (NSWG).
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NEITI, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, who announced this during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator, George Akume is the chairman of the board (NSWG).
Other members of the new NEITI board, according to Orji include, the executive chairman, FIRS Zacch Adedeji, representing government, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Mallam Mele Kyari, representing companies, as well as Mr Oghene Gwueke Ajafia, representing Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Lagos Chamber of Commerce.
Also, the president, Miners Association of Nigeria Mr. Dele Ayanleke; Engr. (Mrs) Nkechi Isigwe, representing Women/ Geoscientist, as well as representative of Extractive Industries expert; and President of NUPENG, Comrade Willians Akporeha.
The Executive Secretary of NEITI said that members representing the six geopolitical zones of the country 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).
He explained that the appointment of Senator Akume as the chairman of new NEITI board shows that government has the highest commitment to NEITI, adding that the development is also an advantage for NEITI, since the agency now has better access to the president.
Orji also announced that the NEITI Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) has been reconstituted after about seven years, adding that the task team would be inaugurated on the 13th May 2024 with high-ranking officers no less than a director, as part of the team.
The team, according to him, comprises key government agencies, such as the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Revenue Mobilization, Allocation & Fiscal Commission (RMFAC), and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Others include, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF), Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mining Cadastre Office, among others.
He explained that the IMTT is saddled with the responsibility of implementing recommendations and findings of the NEITI’s industry reports and deepen government oversight and reforms in the extractive sector, adding that the IMTT program also aims to increase integrity and transparency within regulatory agencies and operators in the extractive industries.
Orji also announced that NEITI is set to host the maiden edition of the NEITI House Dialogue, a quarterly policy engagement series that would host notable policymakers who will address policy issues and reforms in the extractive sector.
He said the event which would hold on the 29th April, 2024 at the NEITI House, Abuja, would have the NUPRC CCE, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, to grace the maiden edition of the dialogue.
He continued, “A draft remediation plan is being developed for implementation in line with NEITI’s mission and strategic plan which is to institutionalize accountability mechanisms and processes to instill a culture of transparency and participation in Nigeria’s extractive sector for the benefit of all.
Work on the NEITI Data Center has also commenced and the expected completion date is August 2024. The data center when completed will serve as a repository of information and data on extractive and natural resource governance.”
He also appealed and called on the civil society to close ranks and bury their differences, adding that NEITI is and always would be their institution ready and open to work with all CSOs as important partners in the EITI.
