Global Integrity Watch on Monday called on the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority to respond to outstanding audit observations and Freedom of Information requests concerning its financial records.
The group made the demand during a peaceful protest at the NNRA headquarters, where it submitted a document seeking explanations on audit observations covering 2021, 2022 and 2024, as well as access to specified financial and administrative records.
GIW, under its New Nigeria Public Accountability Initiative, also called for changes in the leadership of the authority, including the resignation of its Director-General, Dr Yau Usman Idris, as part of its demands for improved accountability and institutional transparency.
Leading the protest, the organisation’s Nigerian Country Representative, Mohammed Eneji, said public institutions had a responsibility to respond to legitimate questions concerning public funds.
Eneji said the group’s review of Auditor-General observations identified N71.09m relating to 2021, N19.60m for 2022 and N6.689bn involving 12 issues in 2024.
He stressed that the figures were audit-related observations and did not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing.
“We state that our work is not directed at individuals for personal reasons. It is about institutional accountability,” Eneji said.
He said the organisation wanted the NNRA to provide records, explanations and evidence of corrective measures taken on the issues raised.
“Our stated objective is also to support anti-corruption efforts and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by exposing accountability gaps,” he added.
GIW listed five demands, including issue-by-issue responses to the Auditor-General’s observations for 2021, 2022 and 2024.
The group also requested responses to its FOI applications and the release of the authority’s annual reports and financial statements for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, where the records exist and are held by the agency.
Eneji said the group was seeking institutional accountability rather than pursuing personal interests.
He added that GIW wanted access to released records for independent forensic examination to determine whether outstanding issues required further action.
The organisation said it would continue its advocacy through peaceful and lawful means, including formal complaints, public engagement and court proceedings where appropriate.
Receiving the protesters and the document on behalf of the NNRA management, an Administrative and Human Resources official, Lanre Adeoye, acknowledged the importance of accountability and assured the group that its concerns would be reviewed.
Adeoye said the authority would examine the requests and respond.
“Nigeria needs public institutions that can explain how taxpayers’ money is received, committed, spent and accounted for.
“We will look at your request, we will look at your position and your plight. We will get back to you in no time,” he said.
Adeoye noted that the NNRA was marking its 25th anniversary and had operated under different leaderships over the years.
He urged the protesters to remain calm, explaining that accountability processes within the authority followed established institutional procedures and reporting lines involving its supervising ministry and the Federal Government.
“It is not that your letters have been ignored. We have seen your letter and, at the management level, it has been looked at,” Adeoye said.
He added that the issues had also been considered within the authority’s reporting structure.
GIW welcomed the engagement and said it would give the NNRA an opportunity to respond to the issues raised.
The group reiterated that its campaign would remain evidence-based and focused on transparency, accountability and responsiveness in the management of public resources.
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