Publish What You Pay-Nigeria Issues Communique After Multi Stakeholders Workshop At Abuja

Preamble

Determined to involve multi-stakeholders in moving the activities of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) forward, Publish What You Pay-Nigeria (PWYP), with support from Ford Foundation organized a two-day workshop on strengthening the civil society engagement on EITI standards.

Participants were drawn from the Civil Society Steering Committee members of NEITI, media, academia, professional bodies, representatives of NEITI, International Development Partners (IDPs) and PWYP members across the federation. Also, in attendance were representative of PWYP International Asmara Klein, EITI International Board member, Faith Nwadishi.

In an opening remark, the National Coordinator of PWYP Mr. Emeka Ononamadu welcomed participants and expressed appreciation for sustaining the coalition despite numerous challenges. Similarly, Waziri Adio, the NEITI Executive Secretary in a message, pledged continued support for PWYP to fill the gaps that exists between the CSOs and NEITI.

Presentations on “EITI 2016 standards”, NEITI achievements from civil society perspective, outcomes from NEITI’s recent validation, CSSC subcommittees ToRs and deepening of implementation of EITI in Nigeria amongst others were made at the workshop.

Objectives of the workshop:

• To improve civil society participation in EITI processes
• Engage EITI process and trickle it down to communities

• Improve multi-stakeholder’s involvement in governance

Areas of priority:

Some priority areas CSOs will work on in the EITI validation process in Nigeria were identified as follows:

• Direct sub-national payments and transfers
• Data accessibility

• CSO participation
• Contract transparency

The 2-day event witnessed active deliberations, group works, and contributions by participants; hence the following observations, resolutions and recommendations were reached:

Observations:

1. Participants observed that the high level of corruption in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria has become a monster and a recurring phenomenon. This endemic has impeded development for decades.

2. That primitive accumulation of wealth on a very large scale from the commonwealth or resources by public office holders and their collaborators has continued unabated and therefore worrisome.

3. That the system and institutions in place for extractive sector exploration, production, control and monitoring purposes in Nigeria has proven to be inadequate, ineffective and porous which has continued to harbor preventable leakages and revenue losses for the country.

4. It observed a weak tax administration, low level of coordination, weak oversight, corporate tax evasion and poor negotiation of market value for our products.

5. It frowned at continuous misapplication and misappropriation of revenue from the extractive sector.

6. It was observed that civil society organizations and actors have capacity gaps in the areas of research, documentation and negotiation skills.

7. The workshop welcomed the progress made in the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill and prayed that the process of signing it into law be completed in record time.

8. It further observed that CSOs participation in the EITI process in Nigeria is weak and not inclusive.

Resolutions:

1. It was resolved that civil society organizations and actors need to build their skills in the area of research, negotiation and documentation for evidence-based interventions.

2. Participants agreed to set up a committee to liaise and work with critical partners and stakeholders in the monitoring and engagement of the Beneficial Ownership (BO) process to achieve the set objectives and framework as contained in Nigeria’s EITI Road Map and CSSC Action plan for 2017-2018.

3. Civil society organizations should go beyond the legal ownership of companies and utilize technical information to ascertain the beneficial owners.

4. Participants resolved to strengthen the demand for transparency and accountability in the use of extractive resources. The need for awareness and mobilization of the citizens to engage stakeholders through coordinated advocacies for policy reform, open, accountable and transparent system.

5. That CSOs will work with the government, stakeholders in the extractive sector to ensure that corporate social accountability is enshrined in all the activities of International Oil Companies and local operators for the protection of the environment, economic benefits and social development beneficial to the communities.

Recommendations:

1. That the various stakeholders’ engagement with NEITI and extractive industries needs to be strengthened so that the meaningful progress status which Nigeria attained and currently placed as a result of the 2016 EITI validation exercises should be improved on to achieve satisfactory status in 2018.

2. Participants specifically called for the installation of meters on oil-well heads and introduction of other effective and well-organized mechanisms to determine at all time the quantity of crude oil produced in Nigeria.

3. That there is need to work towards ensuring project disclosure, volume and value of oil sold. It is important to reconcile the quantity lifted, the revenue collected and the income so that citizens will get value for their natural resources.

4. That the government should work with all stakeholders for an effective and workable legal regime to unbundle corruption, regulate taxes and block loop holes in the system.

5. That the government should place more anti-corruption priority in the extractive sector to reduce leakages that Nigeria experiences in form of fraud, waste and abuse of public resources.

Publish What You Pay Nigeria (PWYP) is local chapter of the global PWYP. It is a coalition of over 150 Civil Society Organizations campaigning for transparency and accountability along the extractive industries, value chain and good governance in Nigeria.

Signed:

Emeka Ononamadu

National Coordinator

Publish What You Pay (PWYP)

Dr. Mina Ogbanga

Rep. NEITI CSSC