16 August 2012, Sweetcrude, ABUJA – THE Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, has commended the Federal Government for appointing professionals as members of its new National Stakeholders Working Group, NSWG.
This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja and signed by NEITI’s Director of Communications, Mr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji.
The statement said government’s decision to select members of the board from the civil society, industry-related unions and representatives of the six geo-political zones was a demonstration of commitment to respect NEITI’s independence and objectives.
“NEITI is also satisfied that the composition complies with the provisions of NEITI Act 2007 and the expectations of the global
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative operating in over 45 countries for which Nigeria voluntarily signed up to as a founding member since 2003.”
It noted that the composition of a formidable NEITI Board would further give policy direction to the agency and its operations as well as help to ensure efficiency in its continuous audit of the oil and gas sector and the solid minerals sector.
The statement described the move as a policy boost to the implementation of comprehensive strategic plan on remediation recently developed by the Inter-ministerial Task Team, set up by government to translate NEITI’s Audit Report findings and recommendations into visible impacts.
“The coming of the new board is consistent with NEITI’s commitment to meet its post-compliant programmes as required by the global EITI,” it added.
It said that NEITI as a major anti-corruption agency in the Nigerian Extractive Sector was encouraged by the development “as it will strengthen its position and influence as a model in the EITI implementation around the world’’.
The statement urged the new board to build on the achievements of the former board led by Prof. Assisi Asobie, and pledged management’s cooperation in the discharge of their duties.
It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday appointed a 15-man NSWG for NEITI, led by Mr Ledum Mitee.
