By Fortune Eromosele

The federal government through the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, BPSR, has launched the Transparency and Integrity Index Methodology Handbook for 2024 Assessment of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

The handbook, was launched in collaboration with the Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity in Abuja on Thursday.

Presenting the handbook, its Executive Director, Mr. Umar Yakubu, emphasized the need for MDAs to embrace transparency in all their dealings.

In his keynote address, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said the handbook is beginning to penetrate MDAs who have begun to display transparency in their works.

Akume, who was represented by a Director in the office of the SGF, Mr. Wase Isah Francis, said, “This handbook has succeeded in providing a comprehensive framework for evaluating the accuracy, reliability and security of institutional websites.

“It is heart-warming to state that since the maiden workshop, improvements have been recorded in view of MDAs compliance to the fulfilment of the index methodology assessment.

“This is an indication that the values of transparency and accountability has gradually been embraced as hallmark for delivering public goods and services.

“The issues of accountability and transparency is key to the strategic objective of the eight priority areas of the renewed hope agenda on improved governance for effective service delivery as initiated by the current administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

On her part, Program Officer, Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Tamara Berepubo, said the guiding principles extend beyond national borders.

She said, “Transparency is essential for good governance as it guarantees that the public can access and understand decision-making processes and outcomes, fostering accountability, trust, and citizen participation in governance.

“The TII is geared towards assessing the openness and transparency of public institutions by evaluating the publication of vital information relating to good governance that is statutorily supposed to be within the public domain, especially on the website(s) and portal(s) of public institutions in line with the applicable legal framework guiding their operations.

“The guiding principles behind the TII variables are drawn from a range of legal frameworks, including the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended); the Public Procurement Act 2007 (as amended), the Freedom of Information Act 2011; the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007; Executive Order No. 001, 2017; and Federal Character Principles.

“We also derive inspiration from national strategies such as the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2017-2021) and (2022-2026) and the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Framework; Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018; Sustainability Framework amongst others.

“It is worthy note that our guiding principles extend beyond national borders. We draw from international conventions and treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory, such as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) 2004, the Open Government Partnership (OGP); the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC)2006; the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 10 and 16 among other principles which will be explained in the course of the presentation later today.”

In his closing remarks, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reform, (BPSR), Mr. Dasuki Arabi, appreciated the presence of important dignitaries and pledged the commitment of the Service to reel out more frameworks.