The Federal Government has approved the request of the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, to commence his statutory terminal leave ahead of the completion of his single five-year tenure, which ends on February 19, 2026.

The approval was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the NEITI National Stakeholders’ Working Group (NSWG), Senator George Akume. According to the SGF, Dr. Orji’s notification was in full compliance with the Public Service Rules.

A separate statement released by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the SGF, quoted Akume as commending Dr. Orji for what he described as “distinguished and reform-focused service” to Nigeria and the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) community.

Akume noted that under Dr. Orji’s leadership, Nigeria strengthened its standing within the international transparency movement, particularly in promoting accountability across the oil, gas, and solid minerals sectors.

Among his major achievements is the establishment of the NEITI Data Centre—an institutional reform milestone that has enhanced data integrity and broadened public access to extractive industry information, further positioning Nigeria as a credible EITI-implementing country.

Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency in the extractive industries, Akume pledged continued protection of NEITI’s independence and statutory mandate. He added that NEITI’s reforms remain central to national development and align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s governance priorities.

On behalf of the President and the NSWG, the SGF conveyed the government’s best wishes to Dr. Orji, describing his tenure as both “meritorious and accomplished.”