BEVERLY HILLS, February 08, (THEWILL) – Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has averred that transparency, especially in the extractive industry is a critical pillar of the Buhari presidency.
According to him, “it is important for us that we handle our resources with transparency and good governance,” he told a delegation of the global body-Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, on Monday during a meeting at the Presidential Villa.
“One of the objectives that we have set for ourselves is to ensure that we are transparent and able to handle our resources well.
“If we (as a nation) had handled our resources better, with transparency, and good governance, we would not find ourselves were we are now. He said as a nation, “we have learnt our lesson,” declaring that going forward the government will work transparently and generate more revenues.
He stated that as a government, the Buhari administration has determined to work with the Nigeria Extractive Industry and Transparency Initiative (NEITI) “to ensure good governance and look at how we can generate revenues and keep proper accounts.”
Earlier, the in-coming global Chairman of EITI, Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt, a former Prime Minister of Sweden commended Nigeria’s committed to the EITI process, saying he has been following the restructuring of the NNPC, and other developments in the oil sector.
On the delegation were Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI and Minister of State for Budget and Planning.
Acting Executive Secretary of the NEITI, Mr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji and the Deputy Head of the EITI global, Mr. Eddie Rich were also present.
In the same vein, the Vice President also received delegations from Nigeria Leadership Initiative, NLI class of 2015 and the Nigerian Institute of Legislative Studies, NILS.
In his meeting with the NILS, Osinbajo expressed government readiness to support the work of the Institute, stating that the Institute plays a prominent role in the legislative arm of government.
He told the delegation from the NLI that considering the extent of effort required to address the socio-economic impact of the insurgency in the Northeast, Nigerians with the required capacity should partner with different agencies of government to rehabilitate and rebuild the area.
“It would be useful to work with the Presidential Committee on Northeast Initiative to achieve some of its objectives,” the Vice President told the class led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Okey Enelamah and Central Bank Deputy Governor, Mrs Sarah Alade.
Story by David Oputah
