By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The lack of accurate data in the extractive sector will soon be a thing of the past as the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has expressed commitment to complete its N85 million Data Centre in August, this year.
Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji disclosed this at a Press Briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, while giving an update on the EITI implementation in Nigeria.
He disclosed that work on the NEITI Data Centre has commenced, and the expected completion date is August 2024, adding that when completed, it will serve as a repository of information and data on extractive and natural resource governance.
Speaking on the EITI validation and the demand to reconstitute the National Stakeholders’ Working Group (NSWG), also known as NEITI Board, Dr, Orji said, that has been achieved with the recent reconstitution of the Board by President Bola Tinubu, through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
He, however, clarified that it is a 15-member Board as provided by law, and not 16-member Board as erroneously reported by some media organisations, noting that as Secretary to the Board and NEITI Executive Secretary/CEO, he remains on a 5-year single term as provided by law.
Dr. Orji noted the ongoing independent process by the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to elect their representative on the Board, and expressed hope that the process is completed on time to enable them take up their rightful position waiting for them on the reconstituted Board.
He urged them to close ranks and bury their differences, assuring that NEITI is ready and open to work with all CSOs as important partners in the EITI.
On Corrective Action Plan to address issues identified in the Validation Report, he disclosed that NEITI has developed a corrective action plan to that effect, stating 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.
According to him, Nigeria’s corrective actions would focus on improving our ranking on Stakeholders’ Engagement, which include, Government Engagement, Company Engagement, Civil Society Engagement, MSG Governance, Contracts and license allocation, License Register, and Contracts.
The visibly elated Orji said, already the agency’s strategy on improving stakeholders’ engagement has yielded very positive results.
“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 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 stated.
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