The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, CISLAC, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Dr Ogbonnaya Orji as the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
In a statement on Thursday, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani described the choice of Dr Orji “as very suitable and outstanding given his wealth of knowledge, experience in working with NEITI and sustained engagements with member countries of the global extractive industries transparency initiative at the international level over the years.”
The Centre appealed to Buhari to leverage on the excellent choice of Dr. Orji’s appointment to hasten the composition of National Stakeholders Working Group whose tenure of office has since expired.
“CISLAC strongly believes that the composition of the board will be most timely to strengthen Nigeria’s position among 53-member world body at this time when an insider and core professional is leading NEITI.
“While congratulating Dr. Orji, CISLAC urged him to provide required leadership, support, partnerships and collaboration needed by NEITI, the civil society and multi-stakeholders to push the boundaries of transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s strategic oil, gas and mining sector.”
CISLAC pledged to continue to work closely with NEITI under Dr. Orji’s leadership to push the boundaries of on-going reforms in the extractive industries.