FIRS, NNPC, NPA and 508 MDAs Flunk Transparency Test – Report

The 2025 Transparency and Integrity Index: A Wake-Up Call for Nigeria

A recent report titled the 2025 Transparency and Integrity Index has revealed a stark reality about the state of governance in Nigeria. According to the findings, only six out of 517 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) met the minimum benchmark for transparency and integrity. This leaves a staggering 511 agencies in what is termed the “red zone,” indicating a severe lack of accountability and openness.

The report was unveiled in Abuja by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI). It paints a troubling picture of how essential agencies across various sectors—from finance to defense, agriculture to education—continue to fall short in terms of accountability and transparency. Dr. Umar Yakubu, the Executive Director of CeFTPI, emphasized that the assessment, conducted in collaboration with government oversight bodies, highlighted significant gaps in disclosure, ethics, and service delivery.

“The figures speak for themselves. Citizens rely on these agencies every day, yet the institutions meant to manage trillions in revenue and services lack the transparency expected of them,” Yakubu stated.

Top Performers and Those in the Yellow Zone

Among the top performers, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) led the rankings for the second consecutive year with a score of 78.84 percent. Following closely were the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), scoring 78.21 percent and 78.13 percent respectively.

Three institutions fell into the “yellow zone” with borderline scores: the Development Bank of Nigeria (62.60 percent), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (54.12 percent), and the Bank of Industry (51.29 percent). However, the remaining 511 MDAs all fell into the red category, which means they failed the integrity test.

Key Sectors in Crisis

The report highlights that even agencies central to Nigeria’s economy performed poorly. These include the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. Analysts warn that the implications are dire. When institutions responsible for managing public funds cannot fully account for their processes, trust in the economy suffers.

Other agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) also failed to inspire confidence. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was not spared either.

In the oil and power sectors, which are crucial to Nigeria’s economy, transparency remains elusive. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) all scored below expectations. Similarly, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) failed the transparency test.

Security and Defense Agencies Under Scrutiny

The security sector also showed poor performance. The Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Nigerian Shippers Council were among the 511 agencies that scored poorly. The aviation sector was not spared, with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) both performing below standards.

On land, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) fared badly, raising concerns about transparency in major infrastructure projects. Despite consuming a large portion of the federal budget, the Ministry of Defence, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force all recorded dismal performances.

The Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) also failed to meet transparency standards. Yakubu noted that the results were particularly worrying given ongoing security challenges.

Anti-Corruption Agencies Also Fall Short

Even agencies created to check corruption and abuse of office performed poorly. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) were all listed among those that failed the test. Arabi pointed out that this contradiction was a wake-up call. “If anti-corruption institutions themselves cannot fully comply with disclosure, then it undermines the fight against corruption,” he said.

Judicial and Health Sectors in the Red Zone

The Federal Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Court of Appeal, the National Judicial Council (NJC), and the Federal Judicial Service Commission also recorded poor results. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Assembly Service Commission were not left out.

In the health sector, the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) were all in the red zone. Agencies like NAFDAC, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and several Federal Medical Centres and Teaching Hospitals also failed to pass the test. Health watchers say this could undermine service delivery.

“When hospitals and health regulators are not transparent, citizens lose faith in the system, especially in times of crisis,” Arabi said.

Education and Agriculture in Crisis

The Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) all ranked poorly. Major examination bodies such as JAMB, WAEC (Nigeria), and NECO also scored low. Yakubu noted that lack of openness in the education sector was hurting young Nigerians. “Students and parents deserve accountability in how resources are used,” he said.

Agencies critical to Nigeria’s food security were also implicated. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) all failed the test. Others included the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), the Bank of Agriculture, and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). Observers said the result was worrying given rising hunger.

Technology and Media Sectors Also Failing

In the technology and media sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and Galaxy Backbone all failed. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) also performed poorly.

Pensions and Welfare Agencies in the Red Zone

Agencies entrusted with pensions and welfare also fared badly. The National Pension Commission (PENCOM), the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) were all in the red zone. The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Family Homes Fund Ltd also recorded weak compliance.

A Call for Reform

Despite the poor numbers, CeFTPI emphasized that the index was not meant to shame institutions but to guide reforms. “We want to see improvement. Transparency is not a luxury, it is a necessity for national development,” Yakubu stressed.

Arabi added that reforms would be pushed harder. “We will continue to work with agencies to mainstream openness and accountability. Nigerians deserve no less,” he said.

The 2025 Index is expected to form part of broader governance reforms, but for many citizens, the revelations only confirm what they already know—that too many of the country’s most important agencies operate in secrecy, while service delivery suffers.