By Waziri Isa Adam

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has achieved a notable feat by ranking 8th out of 514 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the 2024 Nigeria Integrity and Transparency Index. This impressive ranking is a testament to the exceptional leadership of Arch Sunny Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund.

The top performers in the index are the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) with a score of 77.92%, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) with 71.53%, and the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) with 60.17%, which were ranked First, Second and Third respectively. The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) scored 44.93% to clinch the Fourth position.

According to the report presented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, TETFund scored 34.64% to secure the 8th position. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) secured the 7th position with a score of 37.24%, while the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) scored 39.43% and 37.98% to clinch the 5th and 6th positions respectively.

Established in 1979, NIALS is a premier institution for advanced legal research and studies in Nigeria. Its core objectives include strengthening the skills of judges and prosecutors on key anti-corruption laws and supporting states in drafting court rules and practice directions aligned with the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws.

The study, conducted by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI), aims to promote transparency and accountability across public institutions. Notably, NOSDRA and NIPC outperformed Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which ranked 19th and 337th, respectively.

Speaking at the presentation, the Executive Director of CeFTPI, Dr Umar Yakubu explained that the TII is geared towards assessing the openness and transparency of public institutions. “Public institutions are statutorily mandated to publicize diverse classes of information regarding their activities, in line with the applicable legal framework guiding their operations.”

Further analysis revealed that a total of 151 institutions representing 195 of the total institutions assessed, scored between 8.00 and 0.31 percent which includes Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Auchi Polytechnic, Edo, Gurara Dam Management Agency, Ministry of Petroleum, National Defence College, National Hospital, National Industrial Court, National Mathematical Centre, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria, Office of the Head of the Civil Service, Federal Medical Centre and the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, among others.

Meanwhile, 26 institutions did not conform to the variables used in assessing the institutions, some of which are Ministry of Mines and Power, FCE Okene, National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), Federal College of Forestry and Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna, Nigerian Coal Corporation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and Office of the Secretary General of the Federation, among others.

In general, the report revealed a downward slide from the improvement in the performance of institutions in 2024 compared to 2023.

With this achievement, TETFund must build on the momentum to propel the institution to even greater heights. Under Arch Sunny Echono’s leadership, TETFund can focus on strategic initiatives that enhance research quality, expand capacity-building programs, and foster collaborative partnerships. By doing so, TETFund can potentially surpass its current ranking and become a model for excellence in Nigeria’s education landscape.

As TETFund celebrates this milestone, it is essential to recognize the institution’s commitment to transparency and accountability. The ranking serves as a motivation for TETFund to continue striving for excellence and set a high standard for other institutions to follow.

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