In a move to advance good governance of the extractive sector in Nigeria, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), which are committed to transparency and accountability in the oil, gas and mining sectors, have resolved to close ranks and forge a common front, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has said.

The move, which was a resolution at a consultative forum convened by NEITI, the CSOs underlined the need for unity and commitment to reconciliation to ensure the effective discharge of their roles as important stakeholders in the implementation of extractive transparency processes.

NEITI, in a statement, said the CSOs’ forum further resolved to commence healing and reconciliation process to build stronger partnerships in using NEITI reports to push for reforms under the principles of transparency and accountability.

At the meeting, an all-inclusive committee to harmonise existing frameworks and platforms of engagements into a comprehensive NEITI-CSO Constituency Guideline for the sector was set up, the agency said.

It noted that the new guideline to be developed is to be modeled after NEITI Constituency guideline released at the Dakar Global Conference in June this year.

The seven-man committee is chaired by Tijah Bolton, Executive Director, Policy Alert and Juliet UkanNwosu, Executive Director, Extractive 360 as secretary of the committee.

Other members of the committee include Taiwo Otitolaye: Co-ordinator, Publish What You Pay Nigeria (PWYP); Faith Nwadishi: Executive Director, Centre for Transparency and Accountability (CTA); Dr. Mina Ogbanga: Executive Director, the Centre for Development Support Initiatives (CEDSI) and Bassey Udo, Chairman, Media Initiative for Transparency in Extractive Industries (MITEI).

The CSOs commended NEITI Secretariat for initiating and facilitating the meeting and called for sustained regular engagements.

They also welcomed the Federal Government special support to NEITI Secretariat to secure a befitting permanent office accommodation and commended NEITI’s prompt utilisation of the opportunity.

They also urged the EITI globally to acknowledge the permanent office accomplishment by Nigeria for NEITI as a rare innovation worthy of emulation by other EITI-implementing countries.