NEITI Urges Civil Society To Shift From Activism To Knowledge-based Advocacy

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has urged civil society groups to move beyond activism and embrace evidence-driven, solution-oriented advocacy in extractive sector governance.

Speaking at the visit to the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in Abuja, NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, said CSOs should evolve from watchdogs to reform architects, focusing on energy transition accountability, fiscal justice, and curbing illicit financial flows.

He encouraged CISLAC to publish peer-reviewed journals to strengthen knowledge production and position Nigerian civil society as a global thought leader in extractive governance.

CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, commended NEITI’s role in driving transparency and saving billions through its audits. He called for closer collaboration in tracking audit recommendations, legislative advocacy, and capacity building.

The meeting reinforced the longstanding partnership between NEITI and CISLAC, aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and reforms in Nigeria’s extractive industries.