FG to sign order to promote transparency, efficiency …Mandates MDAs on openness in contract procedures

The federal government has revealed that it will soon sign an executive order to promote transparency and efficiency for the creation of an enabling business environment in the country.

This, it said, would mandate all Ministry, Agencies and Departments (MDAS) to adopt openness in contracting procedures and publishing of contracts.

Briefing journalists over the weekend on the thematic areas of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and what government had accomplished so far, having joined the (OGP) initiative in July, 2016 as the 70th nation.

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Alhaji Ahmed Idris who stated this, emphasised that Nigeria’s participation in the Open Government Partnership would enhance the ease of doing business in the country and also provide opportunities for information sharing and cross fertilization of ideas with countries facing similar challenges like us.

He assured of collaboration with the OGP implementing countries to ensure that all illicit funds in foreign banks were repatriated.

“We will work with the network of OGP implementing countries for technical support especially in repatriating our stolen funds that are currently stashed away abroad,” he also said.

He maintained that Nigeria’s resolve to join the OGP initiative was strategic as its principles fit into the efforts of the present administration towards ensuring that all conduit pipes through which public funds were misappropriated were permanently blocked.

The minister further said that with the renewed vigour in fighting corruption, any person caught pilfering public funds should be made to face the wrath of the law.

The AGF inform the press about the forthcoming National Consultative Retreat of all stakeholders in the OGP process in Nigeria including civil society, professional associations, development partners “the organized private sector to make inputs into the design of our National OGP action plan in Kaduna between 24th and 26th of October, 2016.”

Present at the media roundtable were the representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir Lawal; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Chief Ekpo Nta; Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu; and the Director General, Bureau for Public Service Reforms, Dr. Joe Abah, among other dignitaries.