President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji as new Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

Orji’s appointment, which would take effect from Friday, February 19, 2021, followed the expiration of the term of office of the immediate past Executive Secretary of the organisation, Waziri Adio.

A statement by the Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Mr Willie Basset, indicated the new appointment is for a five-year term, adding that it was done in accordance with provisions of the NEITI Act.

Buhari charged the new Executive Secretary to use his new office to serve Nigeria with diligence and promote honesty and transparency.

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Orji, who started out his professional career with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), was until his new appointment the Director of Communications and Advocacy at NEITI.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji as the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) for a single term of five (5) years in accordance with the provision of Section 12 (2) (a) and 6 (3) of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (Establishment) Act, 2007.

“The Appointment takes effect from 19th February, 2021. Until the appointment, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji was the Agency’s Director of Communications & Advocacy.

“He began his career at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and also worked with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) where Dr. Orji managed several donor-funded projects.

“He holds MSc degree and PhD in Political Economy and International Development from the University of Abuja.

“NEITI was established in 2004 as the key Anti-Corruption Agency at the Presidency responsible for enthroning transparency, accountability and governance of the country’s oil, gas and mining industries.

“Mr. President enjoins the new appointee to serve the nation with all sense of responsibility, honesty, diligence and promote good governance in the discharge of his duties,” the statement reads.