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Oyedele’s Presidential Committee on Reforms seeks NEITI Partnership, Collaboration on Accurate Data, Revenue Transparency

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The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms (PCFPTR) have agreed to work in partnership and collaborate on deployment of reliable data, public disclosure to support ongoing governance and institutional reforms and public finance management.

Rising from an elaborate meeting held at the NEITI House Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji and the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele identified the importance of NEITI’s reports in the oil, gas and mining sectors and the deployment of accurate data as critical success factors in evolving enduring fiscal policies and tax reforms in Nigeria.

Receiving the delegation, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji remarked that NEITI’s key focal areas of improving Nigeria’s macro-economic environment, strengthening public expenditure management, structure, institutional and governance reforms to boost economic growth, create jobs and poverty reduction aligns closely with the mandates of the Presidential Committee. 

According to the NEITI Boss: “With the combined forces of the Presidential Committee and NEITI, Nigeria would benefit from shared knowledge, skills, information and data that informs best economic reforms and policy making”.

He noted that NEITI is available to provide information and data as contained in the NEITI oil, gas, solid minerals and the Fiscal Allocation and Statutory Disbursement Reports and advised the Committee on the need to utilize the findings and recommendations contained in the NEITI reports to advance economic policy initiatives for the benefit of the citizens.

Dr. Orji congratulated the Chairman of the Presidential Committee, Mr Taiwo Oyedele on his appointment to undertake such a critical task and pledged the cooperation of NEITI to support and ensure the success of their national assignment.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms (PCFPTR), Mr. Taiwo Oyedele commended NEITI for the work that the agency is doing in the extractive sector and maintained that such efforts are the reason behind NEITI’s selection by the Committee as one of the key Agencies to support the Committee with data and information that will enable it to deliver on its assignment.

He explained that the Committee has classified its work in three distinct categories including fiscal governance with particular attention to financial management, revenue generation, borrowing, spending as well as policy coordination at the national and sub-national levels.

Others were on revenue transformation focusing on improving government revenues through improved mechanisms for taxing oil and gas and non-oil resources to transform the revenue profile of the Country. 

The Committee is also looking at oil and gas which is the core area of focus by NEITI as well as non-oil resources like the solid minerals sector which NEITI can support the Committee in the area of information and data.

Mr Oyedele further explained that the third pillar or mandate of the Committee is economic growth facilitation and competitiveness with focus on removal of impediments for businesses to thrive, growth, provide jobs and generate revenues.

Mr. Oyedele announced that under the first phase of the Committee’s work which he classified as the ‘quick wins’, it submitted a report with over 20 recommendations to the President, 3 of which have been fully implemented.

He highlighted that the Committee is in its second phase tagged critical reforms which among other things will require amendment of some existing Laws.

The Committee is already engaging the National Assembly and sub-national government on the issues that concerns them while the third phase will be on implementation and change management.

He hopes that the outcome of the Committee’s work will transform to revenue growth for Nigeria.

The Presidential Committee extended special invitation to NEITI to be its partner and co-opted NEITI into the Committee in recognition of the knowledge, competence and integrity of the agency in helping the Committee to streamline fiscal policies, optimize tax structures, and improve revenue collection mechanisms.

Mr Oyedele remarked “By harnessing data-driven insights and best practices, both entities will strive to create an enabling environment for investment, job creation, and economic growth.

Furthermore, the collaboration will prioritise initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and integrity in the management of Nigeria’s extractive resources through promotion and facilitation of participatory and inclusive dialogue with stakeholders, engagements and information sharing, building trust, promoting responsible resource management and combating illicit financial flows.

In reaffirming their commitment to driving meaningful change, the Presidential Committee and NEITI called on all stakeholders, including government agencies, industry partners, civil society organisations and the general public, to actively support and participate in these collective efforts.

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President Tinubu returns to Lagos ahead of APC primaries tomorrow (Video)

Tinubu’s aircraft touched down at about 7:12 p.m. at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

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• President Tinubu chats with African business leaders during the African CEO Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday arrived in Lagos after a three-nation visit to France, Kenya and Rwanda.

Tinubu’s aircraft touched down at about 7:12 p.m. at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

A statement issued by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said that the president was received by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Femi Hamzat; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; and other government officials.

President Tinubu, while in France, met with global investors, emphasising transparency and fiscal discipline and explaining the rationale for the swift implementation of the bold economic reforms his administration has instituted.

Watch Video below:

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Anxiety as chemical pollution affects 6 Ogun schools, 90 students

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Triggers Widespread Panic One Month After Similar Incident

More than 90 students across several secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode were hospitalised on Friday after a suspected chemical odour permeated the town, sparking panic among parents and residents.

Ohibaba.com learned that the pollution was caused by gas leak along the Agoro/Okunowa Road axis of Ijebu-Ode; the situation is now under control by the state environmental monitoring agency, and poses no further danger.

The incident occurred barely one month after a similar chemical odour episode at Our Lady of Apostles Girls School left several students hospitalised.

Eyewitnesses reported that a strange smell spread rapidly across parts of the ancient town, prompting parents and guardians to rush to schools to evacuate their children. Emergency responders moved over a thousand students from affected schools to the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, for medical attention.

Medical personnel at the hospital said many of the affected students complained of abdominal pain and related symptoms. Residents in surrounding communities and adjoining streets were also reportedly impacted by the unusual odour.

Affected schools include Our Lady of Apostles School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Sambadola Private School, Adeola Odutola Secondary School, and St. Anthony School, Esure, in Ijebu Mushin.

As of the time of reporting, no senior government officials had arrived at the State Hospital, where anxious parents and residents gathered in large numbers.

Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, urged parents to remain calm, assuring them that medical personnel were attending to the students. He added that environmental officials from both federal and state agencies had been mobilised to investigate the situation.

The General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Hon. Kehinde Bello, disclosed that an air quality monitoring device installed at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School recorded elevated methane gas concentrations, with peak readings of about 13,500 ppm in surrounding areas.

Bello explained that the device was deployed under the state government’s environmental surveillance programme for early detection of abnormal air quality. He noted that while the methane level remains below the lower explosive limit, it is environmentally significant and requires urgent investigation.

The Ogun State Government has since activated a multi-agency team comprising environmental regulators, emergency responders, and technical air quality experts to assess the situation.

Bello advised residents to stay calm, continue normal activities, and avoid open flames or ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours are noticed. He urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, or respiratory discomfort to seek immediate medical attention at nearby health facilities.

The government assured the public of its commitment to protecting lives and public health, promising further updates as investigations progress.

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JUST IN: Dangote files new lawsuit against FGN over fuel import licences

The new filing asks the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside import permits issued or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), arguing they breach an earlier order to maintain the status quo.

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a new lawsuit against Nigeria’s attorney general in a bid to overturn fuel import licences issued to ‌marketers and the NNPC state oil firm.

Reuters reported that the new filing asks the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside import permits issued or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), arguing they breach an earlier order to maintain the status quo.

The case signals renewed tensions almost a year after Dangote withdrew an earlier lawsuit challenging similar licences.

That case sought to nullify import permits issued to the Nigerian ⁠National Petroleum Company and several traders.

NMDPRA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Regulators and marketers have previously argued imports are needed to ‌ensure ⁠adequate supply and prevent shortages.

Dangote said in the filing that the licences issued this month undermine its operations and contravene the law, which it argues allows imports only when domestic supply falls short.

Dangote ⁠ended the earlier lawsuit in July 2025 without explanation, leaving unresolved questions over competition and supply in one of Africa’s largest fuel markets.

Nigeria ⁠has long relied on petrol imports due to underperforming state refineries. Dangote’s $20 billion facility, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels ⁠per day, was billed to end that dependence, but imports have continued to cover supply gaps as the refinery ramps up output.

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