Nigeria at 65: A Nation Without Financial Transparency
The Open Treasury Portal was created to publish daily payments of ministries, departments and agencies, ensuring that taxpayers could follow the money.
As Nigeria celebrates sixty-five years of independence, the echoes of freedom ring hollow against a backdrop of secrecy. One of the clearest indicators of a functioning democracy is transparency in governance, yet the Federal Government has quietly abandoned its commitment to keep the Open Treasury Portal updated. This platform, once hailed as a landmark achievement in the fight against corruption, has been left dormant, starving citizens of their right to know how public funds are being spent.
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The Open Treasury Portal was created to publish daily payments of ministries, departments and agencies, ensuring that taxpayers could follow the money. By refusing to update it, the government not only undermines accountability but also breaches its own laws and international obligations. The Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Freedom of Information Act emphasise the duty of government to operate openly. To neglect this is to betray the very spirit of democracy.
Sixty-five years after independence, Nigerians deserve more than speeches about unity and resilience. They deserve honesty. They deserve to know whether funds meant for health centres, schools, security, and infrastructure are being judiciously used or quietly siphoned. The absence of financial transparency erodes trust, widens the gap between government and citizens, and deepens the crisis of governance that has plagued Nigeria for decades.
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Anniversaries are not only moments for celebration but also for reflection. If Nigeria must stand tall among nations, it cannot afford to abandon accountability. Transparency is not charity; it is a constitutional obligation. The government must immediately restore the regular update of the Open Treasury Portal and allow Nigerians to see, in black and white, how their resources are managed.
At sixty-five, Nigeria should not be retreating into darkness. True independence will only be realised when the nation embraces openness, responsibility and justice. Anything less is a betrayal of the sacrifices that built this country.
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