The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Bank of Industry (BOI) and National Pension Commission (PENCOM) have emerged as the top three organisations 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.

The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Bureau of Public Procurement, Debt Management Office, ICPC and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority were among the top 10.

The Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CeFTIW), supported by MacArthur Foundation, conducted the ranking.

CeFTIW executive director Umar Yakubu said 511 MDAs were assessed across six broad variables.

Mr Yakubu said the ranking was aimed at preventing corruption in public office as it centred on procurement, budget, human resources, inclusion and website integrity.

“We used this to check the level of transparency with regards to public finances, especially in procurement, how the MDAs spend their money, generate taxes, recruit people. It also assesses them generally on efficiency,” stated the CeFTIW executive director.

Mr Yakubu added, “It is on this assessment that we brought out pf the ranking of 511 institutions which you saw where some did well, and some did not do well. We want MDAs to do well. We hope they will engage Nigerians more on their websites, and it is a way of preventing corruption.”

The CeFTIW chief regretted that most MDAs chose to present information on their citizen- engagement but declined information on procurement which turned out to be where the corruption centred more.

He also frowned at the non-availability of information on the federal character from the MDAs to enable Nigerians to know states’ representation in the various public offices.

“Those are the things missing, but citizens’ engagement, (and) social media relationship are very active, but our aim is for the MDAs to give information on procurement and publish their audited report. (The) highest score last year was 31 per cent, while this year is over 50 per cent, so it is a sign that things will get better,” noted Mr Yakubu.

The CeFTIW director further disclosed that the centre had already involved the EFCC, ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau to compel defaulting MDAs to give information on procurement and finance-related issues.

The secretary to government of the federation, Boss Mustapha, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime stepped-up measures to strengthen external audit scrutiny in the management of public funds.

Mr Mustapha explained that the measures would be achieved by introducing the Open Treasury Portal for full disclosure of payments.

Bureau of Public Service Reforms director-general Dasuki Arabia stressed the importance of transparency and accountability.

“Prudent public finance management has become imperative as government continues to face significant fiscal constraints, with expenditures rising much faster than revenues, resulting in rising budget deficits and borrowings,” Mr Arabia pointed out. “Accordingly, the unveiling of the Probe Monitor Portal and the Public Service Diary Application is a laudable step towards creating reservoir of knowledge for judicial processes.”

He added that it would also strengthen “track records of Public Servants towards mentorship and promoting core ethical values within Public Institutions.”

(NAN)