A Handbook that measures the level of transparency and accountability in government processes has been presented to the public.
At the official presentation of the handbook in Abuja, the Executive Director, Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CeFTiw) Mr Umar Yakubu, called on Government, its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to entrench transparency, accountability and fight corruption in their dealings to enable the country experience more economic growth and development.
At the public presentation of the Transparency and Integrity Index methodology handbook on anti-corruption on Thursday, Yakubu maintained that the aim of the book is to develop strong preventive mechanisms against corruption.
“The Transparency and Integrity Index (TII) methodology, therefore, employs a six parameter indices to benchmark the performances of MDAs toward good governance in certain critical areas.
Executive Director, Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CeFTiw) stressed that the handbook would draw the attention of governments at all level of the five major thematic areas highlighted in the book to promote transparency.
“When we started in 2021, the highest score was 32. 9 out of 100 marks but in 2022, the Development Bank of Nigeria scored 52, so if you can get 20 percentage increase within one year, I think it is a good development.
Prosecuting corruption is not cheap and most of the time, it is difficult to get the assess to recovery, so the whole message is about prevention of corruption which cascades into good governance,” Yakubu said.
Similarly, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR), Mr Dasuki Arabi said the workshop was aimed at ensuring the principles of accountability and transparency in their respective organisations.
“The Bureau drew her inspiration to partner with the CeFTIW on the Transparency and Integrity Index (TII), based on her strategic role as a driver of Public Service Reforms across MDAs.
“Public Financial Management of the National Strategy for Public Service Reforms seeks to achieve strategic, efficient and effective mobilisation, allocation and use of public resources as well as ensure fiscal discipline, transparency, integrity and accountability through timely reporting.
Other stakeholders at the event stressed the need for transparency to be embraced to promote good governance.
