BENIN CITY -The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), has commended the Federal Government for reconstituting the Board of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), saying the action will help stave off Nigeria’s suspension from EITI following the failure of NEITI to release the 2013 audit report as required by EITI standards.
The commendation is contained in a press release issued by ANEEJ in Benin City and signed by its Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor. It called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately inaugurate the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSCG) Board so that they can hit the ground running to beat all deadlines associated with the EITI standards and values which Nigeria is currently in violation without a board in place.
“We welcome the Federal Government’s decision to reconstitute the board and appointment of Mr. Waziri Adio as the Executive Secretary given his rich background on public policy and as a former NEITI Staff. We have no doubt about Waziri Adio’s capacity to deliver on NEITI’s mandate and we consider his appointment as a round peg in a round hole,” David Ugolor said.
“The appointment of the Waziri Adio and the new board has sent the right signal to the EITI International board which is currently meeting in Lema, Peru to consider the suspension of Nigeria from the global body.
“We also wish to use this medium to urge the new EITI International board led by Fredrik Reinfeldt to stay all action against Nigeria as the new move by government shows is a positive step that it will certainly settle all outstanding issues with the body as requested during Reinfeldt recent visit to the country.” Ugolor stated
It will be recalled that the Federal Government’s dissolution of the NEITI board stalled the release of the 2013 NEITI oil and gas audit report, which has been ready since December 31, 2015. The board, as it were, must give its approval before the report is made public.
EITI said Nigeria was in breach of its rules and standards after failing to publish the reports on December 31, 2015.
During the recent visit of the EITI Board chairman, Fredrik Reinfeldt to Nigeria, ANEEJ called on him to impress on our government to urgently constitute the NEITI board, a request the federal government has heeded.
