The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has welcomed with optimism the 9-point agenda presented by the new leadership of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Nigeria, a leading Civil Society Organization (CSO) in the country. NEITI and PWYP resolved to strengthen their partnership to further deepen the implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in Nigeria.
This commitment was made in Abuja when the leadership of PWYP paid a courtesy visit to the NEITI House in Wuye District. The Executive Secretary of NEITI and National Coordinator of EITI Nigeria, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, and the National Coordinator of PWYP Nigeria, Dr. Erisa Danladi, who is also the Civil Society Representative on the NEITI Board, expressed their resolve to work closely together.
During the meeting, Dr. Orji highlighted the critical role PWYP has played globally in the emergence of the EITI process among natural resource-rich countries and the establishment of NEITI. He described PWYP’s involvement as historical and driven by a multi-stakeholder approach.
Dr. Orji also expressed his delight at the strong, resilient, and knowledgeable leadership within PWYP, who are committed to open and constructive engagement to advance the EITI process in Nigeria. He disclosed that the new leadership of PWYP emerged after the PWYP Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held in October 2024.
Unveiling the new policy thrust, the Executive Secretary & National Coordinator EITI Nigeria, described the new focus of the organization as comprehensive in content & progressive in advocacy and engagement.
The 9-point agenda include: Anti-Corruption, Just Energy Transition, Contract Transparency, Beneficial Ownership Transparency and Gender & Social Justice. Others are Fiscal Openness, Environmental Justice, Safe Civic Space and Community Beneficiation.
Dr. Orji noted that a close examination of these thematic areas reveals a strong alignment with NEITI’s mandate, the country’s work plan, and the global EITI standards. He commended the substantial achievements of NEITI, including the publication of current and reliable data, the implementation of beneficial ownership, contract transparency, and leadership in driving impactful reforms within the extractive sector.
The Executive Secretary of NEITI further explained that the 9-point agenda will support NEITI’s work and contribute to impactful reforms within the extractive industry. The agenda was officially unveiled at the event, with Dr. Orji and the leadership of PWYP, marking a significant milestone in the collaboration between both organizations.
The Executive Secretary of NEITI commended the leadership of PWYP Nigeria for their new vision and pledged NEITI’s full cooperation and support for the successful implementation of the new agenda.
Dr. Erisa emphasized the urgent need to strengthen ties between PWYP and NEITI in order to reposition PWYP within the EITI process, which NEITI is actively implementing in Nigeria. She also announced that the membership of PWYP has expanded to include 164 organizations across Nigeria, providing a broader platform for disseminating NEITI’s industry reports.
Additionally, Dr. Erisa highlighted that PWYP’s primary focus will be on integrating its gender-inclusive policy into the National Women & Gender Policy, which is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
Accompanying Dr. Erisa on the visit were the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PWYP Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Mustapha Yahaya; the Deputy National Coordinator & Executive Director of Policy Alert, Tijah Bolton-Akpan; the Legal Adviser, Barr. Buba Godobe; and the General Secretary, Professor Helen Bodunde.
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