ABUJA, 19 August 2016: The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding on the implementation of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) with an NGO, Right to Know, Nigeria.The agreement was reached when the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Waziri Adio received the Coordinator of Right to Know, Mrs. Ene Enonche-Nwankpa and her team in his office.
The Executive Secretary welcomed the decision by Right to Know, Nigeria to partner with NEITI on implementation of the Act noting that the decision to sign MoU with the group was part of NEITI’s efforts to fully comply with the Freedom of Information Act.
Mr. Adio informed his visitor that NEITI has already set up a dedicated desk on the FOI Act. He underscored the importance of FOI as compliment to NEITI’s works. He sought technical assistance in the areas of website restructure, integration of FOI portal and capacity building on Freedom of Information Act.
Earlier in her presentation, Mrs. Enonche-Nwankpa explained that the purpose of her visit was to seek areas of collaboration with NEITI particularly on the implementation of FOI Act. She indicated her organization’s readiness to support NEITI in the areas of capacity development and restructuring of NEITI website to optimize it for implementation of the Freedom of Information.
Mrs. Enonche-Nwankpa expressed confidence that collaboration between the Organizations will aid NEITI’s efforts to deliver its mandate of enthroning regime of transparency and accountability in the extractive sector.
She commended NEITI for its independent views, courage and professionalism leading to increasing transparency and accountability in the extractive industries.
The Right to Know, Nigeria is an Organization established in 2007 to champion the right to access officially held information at all levels of public institutions in Nigeria.