Posted by The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Democracy Officer in Nigeria, Mr. Steven Herbaly says the Federal Government's anti-corruption war as well as the punitive measures being introduced for offenders, have laid the foundation for Nigeria's economic transformation.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Democracy Officer in Nigeria, Mr. Steven Herbaly says the Federal Government's anti-corruption war as well as the punitive measures being introduced for offenders, have laid the foundation for Nigeria's economic transformation.
Mr. Herbaly said this while speaking at the opening of the South/South Interactive session of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) for civil societies and communities in the area, at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt.
According to him, "Nigeria's commitment to fighting corruption, and improving transparency and accountability in the nations income-generating industry is laudable" and can earn Nigeria the respect of international creditors.
He noted that unlike in the past when "oil revenue was often treated as private personal resources", that anti-corruption measures introduced and implemented by the government is changing all that, as well as improve Nigeria's reputation among the world's investors. Mr. Herbaly said however that people are looking forward to the passage of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) Bill, that was launched by President Obasanjo in February 2004, which will institutionalize annual audits in all publicly run outfits in the country.
Also speaking, Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State said the key to our future development lies in the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI)
The governor declared that the Rivers State Government fully supports the Federal Government reform processes, in the fight against corruption, in supporting transparency and accountability, and in ensuring utmost frugality in Government and public spending.
He expressed delight that the EITI initiative, which was long overdue, would assist greatly in enabling government to plan her programmes, noting that "you can feel the impact of increased information and the demystification of the income of the nation." "In our humble efforts at good governance, we have touched the lives of our people in many ways, and in ensuring that every Naira spent gets its value", Dr Odili said and commended the Minister of Solid Minerals for organizing the forum in Port-Harcourt. In his contribution, the World Bank Director of Funds for International Development, Mr. Charles Mcpherson said current efforts by the Federal Government at anti-corruption has placed Nigeria at the fore of transparency issues in the globe.
"Transparency," according to him, "has the capability to improve the power of governance, as well as raising the level of public awareness through available information" and emphasized that the interactive session is about sharing information and for building stronger partnership between stakeholders.
Earlier, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr (Mrs) Obiageli Ezekwesili said what the Ministry is doing through the NEITI interactive session is to allow free flow of information that would empower the populace to engage government meaningfully at all levels on accountability issues.
"We want our present and our future to be better, through the current audit that is going on in the oil and gas sector in these past years" she declared.
The opening session had delegates drawn from civil society organizations, lawmakers as well as top functionaries of government in attendance.