The Federal Government, on Tuesday, advised the incoming administration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to strengthen anti-corruption and reform-minded agencies to effectively contribute to robust economic and public finance.
Speaking in Abuja at the unveiling of the Gender and Environmental Reporting Frameworks for Nigeria’s oil, gas and mining sectors, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said anti-corruption agencies were well positioned to guide and shape government policies.
This came as she stated that the latest frameworks, put together by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, would help in resolving the negative impact of oil, gas and mineral exploration in host communities nationwide.
In her advice to Tinubu, the minister said, “Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to the incoming administration to strengthen anti-corruption agencies and reform-minded institutions like NEITI in its economic policy agenda, considering the agency’s unique national and international mandates.
“Through its regular oil, gas and mining audits, and publications of timely policy papers, NEITI is well-positioned to guide and shape government policies in the energy sector and contribute to robust economic and public finance management in Nigeria. The agency occupies a very important position in Nigeria’s economic landscape.”
The Executive Secretary, NEITI, Ogbonnaya Orji, the two reports were direct responses to NEITI’s readiness to move into the issues of gender and the environment.
This, he said, was in view of the strong connection and linkage to the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s desired impact in the lives of citizens in oil and gas-producing countries.
