PWYP-Nigeria trains CSO on NEITI Remediation Advocacy

For the implementation of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) global requirement which mandates member states to conduct an audit of the extractive sector, the Nigerian state established Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). NEITI undertakes a regular audits report of the Nigerian extractives sector. The reports examine physical, financial, process audits of the oil and gas sector and the monies the extractives companies pay to the government with what government declares it receives.

Since Nigeria signed on to EITI membership, NEITI had carried out respective audit reports focusing on oil, gas and solid minerals. Findings from the reports show that Nigeria in the last 10 years lost at least ‘US$2.6 billion in the sector as a result of corruption.

NEITI audit reports, clearly point out remediation issues that will impact policies, legislation, and operational procedures that will check corruption in the extractive sector if adequately implemented.

Over the years, the Nigerian government has not implemented the remedial issues while corruption in the extractive sector worsens. Civil society, citizens and the media seem not have adequate knowledge of the remedial issues which form key advocacy on extractive sector reform.

Thus, the need to adequately carry out advocacy on the remedial issue and engage key policymakers to implement the NEITI remedial issues was the basis of the training organized in Enugu by PWYP-Nigeria.

Developing and leading the advocacy on the NEITI remediation audit findings, building the CSOs capacity to undertake NEITI remediation audit findings advocacy and to engage key policymakers on addressing the NEITI remediation audit findings were the core aims of the training.

Over 35 CSOs participated in the training, PWYP-Nigeria believes that if we have CSOs and citizens with the required knowledge and capacity to carry out advocacy on remediation and NEITI audit outcomes, the corruption in the extractive sector that has led to the loss of revenue will drastically reduce and the reform in the sector will be achieved.