The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies to take concrete actions to boost transparency and public trust. He made this statement while delivering the keynote address at the presentation of the 2026 Transparency and Integrity Index at the Federal Ministry of Finance Auditorium in Abuja.
Akume emphasized that the Federal Government expects public institutions to integrate transparency and accountability into management decisions, budgeting, procurement, staff development and public engagement. This, he said, is part of efforts to strengthen citizens' trust in government. The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he added, remains committed to open, accountable and responsible governance.
The 2026 Transparency and Integrity Index, according to Akume, is an important instrument for assessing accountability, openness and ethical standards across public institutions. It provides MDAs with benchmarks for identifying their strengths as well as shortcomings requiring urgent attention. He charged heads of MDAs to incorporate the Index's findings and indicators into strategic planning, performance management, budget priorities and procurement processes.
Akume stressed that transparency must be treated as an institutional asset rather than an administrative burden. He added that integrity should be embedded in the procedures and culture of government institutions through clear policies, proper record-keeping, effective oversight and ethical leadership. The SGF also called for consequences for wrongdoing, insisting that strengthening public confidence in government would require institutions to demonstrate accountability.
The SGF particularly urged MDAs to leverage technology by ensuring that their websites and data portals provide accurate, timely and user-friendly information on their activities. He said that current information on budgets, contracts and services should be readily available to citizens, enabling them to engage with government effectively and track public resource utilization.
Akume explained that the 2026 TII assesses public institutions across five areas — fiscal transparency, open procurement and contracting, human resources and inclusion, control of corruption, and citizens' engagement. The initiative complements ongoing public service reforms, anti-corruption measures and Nigeria's commitments under the Open Government Partnership.
Akume commended the Bureau of Public Service Reforms and the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity for sustaining the initiative. He also called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations, professional bodies, development partners and the media to strengthen transparency and accountability.
Key points
- The Federal Government remains committed to building institutions that are transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of the people.
- The 2026 Transparency and Integrity Index assesses public institutions across five areas.
- Akume tasks MDAs on implementing the Index's findings to boost transparency and public trust.
