Nigeria Content Online

Civil society
groups have suggested that issues bothering on extractives resources
should be put in the front burner of the 2011 elections, since
extractives account for more than 90 percent the country’s national
income.

Making the
suggestion yesterday in Benin City at a town hall meeting on Nigerian
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and 2011
elections, a leader of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre
(CILAC), Innocent Adjenuhure, called for strategies that would help
ensure that politicians, political parties and the electorate regard
Transparency Initiative as critical election issue that must be
addressed by them as a necessity.

Mr. Adjenuhure also
advocated that political parties and candidates for elective positions
be invited to address the electorate at town hall meetings on their
understanding of what NEITI is, and their plans towards ensuring that
government ensure full implementation of the initiative.

Besides, he tasked
civil society organisations on education of the citizens on what NEITI
entails, and the need to demand from contestants in all elections their
plans for NEITI if elected into office.

Failed on initiative

Earlier in her
welcome address, National Co-coordinator of “Publish What You Pay,”
Nwandichi Faith announced that Nigeria was yet to comply with the
implementation of NEITI, whereas five African countries have been
validated so far, and are now compliant.

“Nigeria is still
undergoing validation and has been given a six months extension which
will expire by April 2011. So Nigeria is tagged “close to compliant”
country in the NEITI process,” she said.

Ms. Nwandichi listed the benefits of NEITI to include the
strengthening of accountability and good governance, promotion of
greater economic and political stability and improved investment
climate by providing a clear signal to investors and international
financial institutions that the government is committed to greater
transparency.