The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to translate the findings of the 2026 Transparency and Integrity Index (TII) into concrete improvements in their operations. This, he said, is to strengthen accountability and public trust. Akume gave the charge while delivering the keynote address at the presentation of the 2026 Transparency and Integrity Index held at the Auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja.
Akume stated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to open, accountable and responsible governance. He stressed that public institutions must ensure that their policies, programmes and actions are transparent, visible and understandable to Nigerians. According to him, the Index has become a vital instrument for assessing accountability, openness and ethical standards across government institutions.
The SGF noted that the Index provides MDAs with clear benchmarks to identify areas of strength and gaps requiring improvement. He urged heads of MDAs to integrate the findings and indicators of the Index into strategic planning, performance management, budget priorities, procurement processes, staff training and digital disclosure. Akume emphasised that the report should not sit on the shelf but inform management decisions.
Sen. Akume emphasised that transparency should be viewed as an institutional asset rather than an administrative burden. He noted that integrity must be embedded in the procedures and culture of public institutions through clear policies, proper record-keeping, effective oversight, ethical leadership and consequences for wrongdoing. This, he said, is crucial for building public institutions that Nigerians can understand and hold accountable.
The SGF tasked MDAs to take advantage of technology by ensuring that their websites and data portals provide accurate, timely and user-friendly information. This includes current budget, contract and service information, to enable citizens to effectively engage government and track the utilisation of public resources. He explained that the 2026 TII assesses public institutions in five critical areas comprising fiscal transparency, open procurement and contracting, human resources and inclusion, control of corruption and citizens’ engagement.
Akume noted that the ultimate objective of transparency and integrity should go beyond institutional rankings to building public institutions that Nigerians can understand, engage with and hold accountable. He said the Federal Government remains fully committed to this goal and will continue building institutions that are transparent, accountable, professional and responsive to the needs of the people.
Sen. Akume commended the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI) for sustaining the initiative. He called for stronger collaboration among government, civil society, professional bodies, development partners and the media in strengthening transparency and bringing corruption to its knees.
Key points
- The SGF tasks MDAs to implement the 2026 Transparency and Integrity Index findings to strengthen accountability and public trust.
- The 2026 TII assesses public institutions in five critical areas comprising fiscal transparency, open procurement and contracting, human resources and inclusion, control of corruption and citizens’ engagement.
- The Federal Government remains committed to building institutions that are transparent, accountable, professional and responsive to the needs of the people.
