A REPORT from the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI) has ranked 510 ministries, departments and agencies of government low in transparency and integrity.
The report, which was released yesterday in Abuja tagged “Transparency and Integrity Index 2024” assessed 514 different MDAs out of which only four were ranked high.
Presenting the report, the Executive Director of the centre, Mr. Umar Yakubu said the MDAs were assessed based on sub-variables including “anti-bribery policy, whistleblower policy, conflict of interest policy, control of corruption implementation report and citizens engagement,”
He added that the report “Is geared towards assessing openness and transparency of public institutions by evaluating the publication of vital information relating to good governance, as it aims to evaluate the publication of information that is statutorily supposed to be within the public domain,”
Other variables used in scoring the MDAs according to him include “Budget allocation of last eight years, budget released in the last eight years, budget implementation in the last eight years, revenue remitted in the last eight years as well as auditor general’s report of the last eight years.
A breakdown of the report by Daily Trust shows that among the least ranked agencies, who scored only 4 points out of 100 include the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, National Assembly Service Commission, Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations
Other least ranked MDAs who scored 8 points out of 100 points include Nigeria Football Federation, National Broadcasting Commission, Ministry of Petroleum resources, National health insurance scheme, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC).
Others are National Hajj Commission, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Ministry of Transportation, NAFDAC, Ministry of Défence, Ministry of Aviation, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Transportation.
Also on the least ranked agencies are the Bureau of Public Procurement, Nigerian Communications Commission, Nigerian Shippers Council, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Debt Management Office, Office of Auditor General of the Federation, NNPCL, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria-Export Import Bank among others.
On the other hand, the four agencies that were ranked high are National Oil Spill Detention and Response Agency, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, Development Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) noted that “The BPSR’s partnership with CeFTPI is inspired by the bureau’s strategic role as a driver as a driver in MDAs strategic reforms which aligns with the development objective of the public financial management reforms,”
He further stated that since the commencement of the Presentation of the report in 2021, “Records have revealed that most public institutions have adopted the methodology matrix, although responses remain low, the BPSR intend to intensify drive towards a broader awareness by all public institutions,”
