(http://www.channelstv.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/imoke_liyel.gif)(http://www.channelstv.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/imoke_liyel-300x225.gif) (http://www.channelstv.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/imoke_liyel.gif)The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has been called upon to publicize its activities in view of its relevance to the nation's economy. Speaking in an opening remark at a stakeholder's Workshop on the Fiscal Allocation and Statutory Disbursement Audit (2007-2011) in Calabar, Secretary to the Cross River State Government, Mr. Mike Aniah, said the call became necessary because currently, there is no adequate information about its activities. Aniah averred that, the formation of the initiative by the Federal Government is a way of ensuring good governance through good leadership and added that, the body is saddled with a huge responsibility of reviewing its function with the hope of creating a difference in the system. He reasoned that in a nation where more than 90 percent of its revenue is derived from gas/oil and natural resources, there is need for states to make their inputs and see how their revenue could improve for the benefit of the people. The NEITI chairman, Mr Ledun Mitee, in a keynote speech, appealed to participants to fully embrace the initiative that is in fulfillment of its statutory mandate under section 2 of the NEITI Act, 2007, which requires the agency to conduct validation exercises to ensure transparency and accountability by government in the allocation, disbursement and application of revenues earned from oil, gas and mining sectors. Mitee stated that the workshop focused on fiscal allocation and statutory disbursement of the extractive industries revenue from the federation account to the three tiers of government, adding that other agencies of government that directly receive allocations from the account are also covered by the agency in line with Nigeria's membership of the Global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. He assured that the agency is set to work with the tiers and levels of government to turn its opportunities into impacts in the lives of the people.
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