SGF Tasks MDAs on Transparency, Public Trust
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, has charged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to translate the findings of the 2026 Transparency and Integrity Index (TII) into concrete reforms to strengthen accountability and public trust.
Akume gave the charge Monday September 28, while delivering the keynote address at the presentation of the 2026 TII at the Auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja.
He stated that the administration of President Bola Tinubu, remains committed to open, accountable and responsible governance, stressing that public institutions must ensure their policies, programmes and actions are transparent and understandable to Nigerians.
According to him, the Index has become a vital instrument for assessing accountability, openness and ethical standards across government institutions, while providing clear benchmarks for MDAs to identify strengths and gaps.
In a statement by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser to the SGF on Media & Publicity, Akume urged Heads of MDAs to integrate the findings into strategic planning, performance management, budget priorities, procurement, staff training and digital disclosure.
“The report should not sit on the shelf. It should inform management decisions, budget priorities, procurement processes, staff training, digital disclosure, and how you communicate with the public,” he said.
The SGF emphasised that transparency should be viewed as an institutional asset rather than an administrative burden, noting that integrity must be embedded in the culture of public institutions through clear policies, proper record-keeping, effective oversight, ethical leadership and consequences for wrongdoing.
He tasked MDAs to leverage technology by ensuring their websites and data portals provide accurate, timely and user-friendly information, including budgets, contracts and service information, to enable citizens to engage government and track utilisation of public resources.
Akume explained that the 2026 TII assesses public institutions in five critical areas: fiscal transparency, open procurement and contracting, human resources and inclusion, control of corruption, and citizens’ engagement.
He added that the initiative complements existing public service reforms, anti-corruption measures and Nigeria’s Open Government Partnership commitments. The SGF noted that the ultimate objective should go beyond rankings to building public institutions that Nigerians can understand, engage with and hold accountable.
“The Federal Government remains fully committed to this goal. We will continue building institutions that are transparent, accountable, professional and responsive to the needs of the people,” he said.
The SGF commended the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI) for sustaining the initiative, and called for stronger collaboration among government, civil society, professional bodies, development partners and the media.
