The 2022 Transparency and Integrity Index ranking for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) has listed the National Troupe of Nigeria, National Economic Restructure Funds, and National Steel and Raw Material Agency among the 10 least transparent and accountable public institutions in Nigeria.  

The ranking, which measured corruption and transparency in public organisations across Nigeria, was conducted by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CeFTIW) in conjunction with MacArthur Foundation.

Ranking 431 with a 0.00 rating, the National Troupe of Nigeria took the top spot of the most opaque MDAs, closely followed by the Directorate for Technical Corporation in Africa (430), also with a 0.00 rating.

National Steel and Raw Material Exploration Agency (426), with a rating of 1.7 and Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (424), with a rating of 3.57, are also listed among the 10 worst-performing agencies in terms of transparency and integrity.

National Mathematical Centre, National Economic Reconstruction Fund, National Agricultural Land Development Authority, National Iron Ore Mining Company, and National Park Services are also on the list.

The report evaluated the MDAs’ websites and portals for the publication of crucial information regarding good governance that is legally required to be in the public domain.

According to CeFTIW, public organisations are required to provide a variety of information about their activities, including budgets, to the public in accordance with applicable legal frameworks governing their operations.

To determine its ratings, CeFTIW evaluated the MDAs’ website’s usability, financial transparency, openness of the procurement process, citizen engagement, whistleblowing and anti-corruption policy, and transparency of their recruitment exercise.

CeFTIW executive director Umar Yakubu disclosed that 511 MDAs were evaluated across six broad variables, noting that the ranking was designed to prevent corruption in public office because it focused on procurement, budget, human resources, inclusion, and website integrity.

“We used this to assess the level of transparency in public finances, particularly in procurement, how MDAs spend their money, generate taxes, and recruit people,” the CeFTIW director explained. “It also evaluates their overall efficiency.”

However, the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Bank of Industry (BOI) and National Pension Commission (PENCOM) emerged as the best three institutions in the 2022 Transparency and Integrity Index ranking for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

The DBN came top of the ranking with 58.74 points, while BOI and PENCOM scored 48.33 each to finish second and third, respectively.