FG inaugurates NEITI Task Force on Oil, Gas and Mining Sectors

Author: Emmanuella Anokam

The Federal Government on Monday inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) under the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

The IMTT is an important aspect of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) process in Nigeria and is a decision taken by the Federal Executive Council following the publication of the first NEITI Oil and Gas Report covering the period 1999-2004.

The essence of the task force is to examine each NEITI industry report on the oil, gas and solid minerals sectors and the Fiscal Allocation and Statutory Disbursement (FASD) report and present key findings.

The panel will make recommendations in its report and identify the agencies responsible for carrying out remedial actions as recommended by the Independent Administrators.

At the launch, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary of NEITI, explained that the goal of the task force was to ensure that NEITI did not just publish reports that were gathering dust on the agency’s shelves.

Orji said such findings by the team would help deepen government oversight and reform the oil, gas and mining sectors for productivity and transparency.

“Furthermore, it will enhance accountability in a way that ensures the greatest good for the greatest number of Nigerians who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the country’s natural resources.

“IMTT is also expected to develop strategies that will track and report on progress in implementing the findings and recommendations contained in the NEITI reports.

“NEITI envisaged that, in particular, reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector, the implementation of the Solid Minerals Action Plan and the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would take over the work of the IMTT.

“However, recent events have clearly demonstrated that the IMTT survives and remains relevant due to its unique composition and accountability,” he said.

He said the recent EITI validation and the recent international mission conducted by EITI in Nigeria equally identified the need for IMTT, reinforced NEITI’s position that the task force should be revitalized.

The executive secretary added that the mission has also been strengthened to help oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in the NEITI reports.

“NEITI is therefore confident that the IMTT framework is better equipped to meet the challenges identified in the governance framework introduced for the mining sector.

“NEITI also believes that the achievements and impact it has recorded in the sector will be tracked and documented within the IMTT.

“This is happening in the context that the IMTT framework will support tracking and measuring where we are, where we need to be and how we can get there,” he explained.

Orji listed partner agencies to achieve the IMTT, including the Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

They also include the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Treasury Mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RAMFAC) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Others include the Representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the SGF Office, the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Office of the Mining Cadastre.

Meanwhile, Mr. Simon Tyungu, Director and Representative of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), congratulated the team members on being selected to serve the country in such a position.

Tyungu assured that the team would not let the government down in the task assigned to it.

“As representatives of various agencies, we have always made every effort to achieve our goals.

“Actually, we all know that NEITI is a transparency agency.

“I also want to insist that when we carry out the assessment, all of us should be aware of what we intend to do, because NEITI’s activities are in the full glare of the press and the international body EITI,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko