The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has renewed its appeal to the media to support its commitment to end corruption, impunity and mismanagement of oil, gas and mining revenues.
Its Executive Secretary, Mr. Waziri Adio, made the appeal when he visited The Nation.
He said NEITI’s mandate consistent with that of the media as watchdogs of the society.
Adio underlined the role of the media in public education, enlightenment and social mobilisation, identifying dissemination of NEITI industry audit reports as an area the support of the media is indispensable
He said: “NEITI exists to ameliorate and reduce the resource curse syndrome in Nigeria. The EITI approach to reversing the resource curse dwells on management of natural resources for the benefit of the people through the use of transparency and accountability tools. We need the media to help use the information and data disclosed by NEITI to shape public debate required to sensitise the citizens to ask informed questions on the management of natural resource revenues. We also need to empower the citizens and other accountability actors to appreciate their roles and the press to help set this agenda. The end goal is that abundant resources should transform to better living standards for the people.
According to him, until NEITI Reports lead to reforms in the extractive sector, sanction infractions and bring about improved quality of life for the citizens, the job of NEITI is far from done.
Adio said: “As leaders, we should model the values we preach and walk the talk. There must be consequences for bad behavior and this can be reenforced by the Media.”
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