Global Integrity Watch (GIW), on Monday, demanded accountability and leadership change at the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), calling on the agency to explain outstanding audit observations involving billions of naira and respond to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.

The group made the demands on Monday during a peaceful protest at the NNRA headquarters, where it submitted a formal document outlining its concerns over public expenditure, access to official records and the management of public resources.

GIW, which said the protest was part of its New Nigeria Public Accountability Initiative (NNPAI), also called for the resignation of the Director-General of the authority, Dr. Yau Usman Idris, and the appointment of new leadership to facilitate what it described as accountability-focused restructuring.

Leading the protest, the organisation’s Nigerian Country Representative, Comrade Mohammed Eneji, said public institutions had a responsibility to answer legitimate questions about taxpayers’ money and comply with lawful information requests.

According to the group, its review of Auditor-General observations identified ₦71.09 million relating to 2021, ₦19.60 million for 2022 and ₦6.689 billion involving 12 issues in 2024.

GIW stressed that the figures represented audit-related observations and did not, in themselves, establish theft or misappropriation.

Eneji said: “We state that our work is not directed at individuals for personal reasons. It is about institutional accountability. Nigeria needs public institutions that can explain how taxpayers’ money is received, committed, spent, and accounted for.

“Our stated objective is also to support anti-corruption efforts and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by exposing accountability gaps. A stronger economy requires public confidence, responsible management of public resources, and institutions that answer legitimate questions.

“GIW calls on public office holders who cannot adequately account for their stewardship of public resources to consider resigning and making way for leadership capable of restoring confidence. This is a call for accountability, not a declaration that an individual is guilty merely because an audit observation exists.”

He called on the NNRA to provide records, explanations and evidence of corrective measures taken to address the issues, including whether the matters had been resolved.

The organisation outlined five demands, including clear, issue-by-issue responses to the Auditor-General’s observations for 2021, 2022 and 2024; responses to its FOI requests; and the release of the authority’s annual reports and financial statements for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, to the extent that the records exist and are held by the agency.

Eneji said the group was seeking institutional accountability rather than pursuing personal interests.

He demanded access to released records for independent forensic examination to identify unresolved discrepancies and any further issues requiring lawful action.

GIW warned that other public agencies that had received its FOI requests and accountability correspondence should be prepared to respond transparently, adding that it would consider further peaceful protests, formal complaints, public advocacy and court proceedings where appropriate.

The group said it could also extend its advocacy to the international community, including the United Kingdom, while clarifying that such action would not, by itself, enforce Nigeria’s FOI Act.

It called on public officeholders unable to account adequately for their stewardship of public resources to consider stepping aside to allow new leadership to restore public confidence.

However, GIW reiterated that the existence of audit observations should not be treated as a declaration of guilt against any individual.

Responding on behalf of the NNRA management, the Administrative and Human Resources official, Mr. Lanre Adeoye, acknowledged the importance of accountability and assured the protesters that the issues raised would be reviewed.

Adeoye, who received the protesters and the document submitted by the group, said the authority would examine their concerns and respond.

He said: “Nigeria needs public institutions that can explain how taxpayers’ money is received, committed, spent and accounted for. We will look at your request, we will look at your position and your plight. We will get back to you in no time.”

He noted that the NNRA was marking its 25th anniversary and had experienced different leaderships over the years, adding that the current leadership had contributed to the institution’s development.

The official urged the protesters to remain calm, explaining that accountability within the authority operated through established institutional procedures and reporting lines involving its supervising ministry and the Federal Government.

Adeoye said: “It is not that your letters have been ignored. We have seen your letter and, at the management level, it has been looked at.”

He added that the issues had also been considered within the authority’s reporting structure and assured GIW that it would receive a response.