CSOs URGE GOVERNMENTS TO GO BEYOND EITI VALIDATION
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, led a Delegation of Civil Society groups working on transparency in the extractive sector and media persons in an exchange and experience sharing visit to Togo, The Delegation engaged various stakeholders in the Extractive sector in Togo, including the Parliament, civil society, mining companies, the Togo EITI Technical Secretariat and the media.
From 24th to 28th June 2013, a Nigerian delegation, led by the Senior Program officer of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC and comprising of a representative of regional West African Civil Society Forum, two journalists, has sojourned in Togo to share experiences on transparency issues in the extractive industries. It was hosted by the Coalition PWYP-Togo. The Togolese and Nigerian delegations have in these exchange activities, met the parliament, NGOs and associations in the extractive sector, the Management and Staff of the West African Cement, WACEM, a dominant company in the Mining sector in Togo, officials of the Technical Secretariat of EITI-Togo and journalists.
During the meetings with the parliament on Tuesday morning, June 25th, 2013, a brief presentation of Nigeria's EITI process was made and an emphasis was put on collaboration between Civil Society organizations in the extractive sector and parliamentarians working on the issues of extractive resources to establish adequate legal frameworks, provide sufficient oversight, sensitize citizens and ensure transparency and accountability.
It was clear that in Nigeria a law governing the extractive sector is voted giving the power to the Board in charge of the EITI process in Nigeria to sanction parties who fail to comply with the rules of the process. The Law Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) foresees three audits namely financial audit that addresses financial flows, physical audit and the process audit. At the end of the meeting the Secretary General of the Togolese parliament asked the PWYP Togo coordination to introduce a letter of audience with the President of the Assembly to discuss strategies for collaboration between parliament and civil society and consider the prospects of enacting a law to make the EITI process in Togo sustainable.
The meeting held in the afternoon of June 25, 2013 with NGOs and associations working on transparency issues in the extractive sector has focused on the role to be played by civil society to boost transparency in the extractive sector. The discussions revealed that governments and companies have the financial resources and decision-making power while the only power that civil society has is obtaining factual information for evidence based advocacy, education and popular mobilization of citizens. The strength of the civil society is complemented by the work of the media in terms of relaying information. Emphasis was put enough on collaboration that should exist between the civil society and other stakeholders, including the media because it is recognized that the work of NGOs and associations is known around the world through the media.
The visit to the company WACEM (West Africa Cement) in Tabligbo by both delegations on June 26, 2013 has identified the specific technical work of the company and its involvement in the EITI process in Togo. WACEM does not produce cement; rather it produces clinker from limestone. The clinker is sold mainly to FORTIA for cement production. WACEM reiterated that it has honored its commitments vis-à-vis the State in the framework of the EITI. It revealed, however, that 3 billion CFA was paid in advanced advance dividends to the State in 2011 for the construction of the road section Tsevié-Tabligbo-Aneho. The picture is clear and sharp, the road remains in a bad state. Civil society and the media have an important role to play in attracting the attention of the government on this situation and advocating for judicious use of resources to ensure that mining communities benefit also benefit from the revenues for natural resources.
On Thursday, June 27, 2013, the delegation Togo-Nigeria met with the staff of the Technical Secretariat of EITI-Togo. Discussions were mainly about the efforts the Secretariat made for the production of reports and their releases. The communication strategy established by the secretariat has allowed getting to all areas of extraction and with the help of journalists the dissemination has reached the general population. Regarding EITI bodies, it was learnt that in Nigeria, the EITI process in Nigeria is governed by a Stakeholders Working Group which is autonomous and not occupied by government officials but by individuals who have distinguished themselves in other fields to ensure independence and effective oversight.
The delegations of the two country noted that the EITI process in their respective countries have improved over time and there is increased awareness among citizens in both countries. They also share mutual successes of being EITI compliant and conducting, publishing and disseminating findings of Audit Reports. They also acknowledge the positive roles played by civil society organizations and the media in promoting transparency in the extractive sectors in both countries The Nigerian congratulated the people of Togo for attaining compliant status at the juts concluded conference in Sydney where Nigeria also emerged with an award of the best performing EITI implementing nation. They also note that in the two countries, there are no ways of independently verifying the quantity of resources extracted by Companies because they lack the facilities to do so.
In view of the discussions during the meetings mentioned above, PUBLISH WHAT YOU PAY-TOGO and CIVIL SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY CENTRE recommends as follows:
Parliament should:
1. Strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians on transparency issues in the extractive industries;
2. Create a framework for discussion with civil society to boost transparency in the extractive industries;
3. To initiate the adoption of a law on the process of the implementation of EITI in Togo to strengthen it and make it irreversible and sustainable.
Government should:
1. Accelerate the process of reconstruction of the road section Tsévié–Tabligbo-Aneho in accordance with the understanding for which WACEM had paid advance dividends to the Togolese government;
2. Implement the recommendations of the validation after Togo compliance;
3. Implement the Act of 5 May 2011 on the contribution of mining companies in the development of communities
4. Introduce openness and transparency in the process of awarding mining licenses and concessions to mining companies and make public disclosures of contracts entered into
5. Commence the process of establishing the frameworks for measuring and ascertaining actual quantities of mineral extracted and used by mining companies so as to capture actual revenues for use in development and improving the welfare of the citizens of Togo
6. invest in capacity building for stakeholders in the EITI process in Togo so that they can effectively exercise oversight and monitor the implementation of the EITI standards
7. Ensure that the EITI process in Togo do not begin and end with audit reports but also judicious use of the revenues received bearing in mind that the resources are nonrenewable
Civil Society should:
1. Continue to demand for increased transparency and accountability in the extractive sector beyond validation and compliance until it reflects in the lives and welfare of the people of Togo
2. develop research, advocacy and networking skills to be able to constructively engage the EITI process, undertake evidence based advocacy, sensitize and mobilize citizens to demand for accountability in the extractive sector
3. Participate actively in the process of dissemination of information, findings of audit reports and education of the citizens
4. liaise with the media and other stakeholders in the academia, professional bodies to provide credible and objective support of the EITI implementation in Togo
Conclusion
The CSOs in both countries commended their government for signing unto the EITI process and making efforts to ensure transparency in the extractive sector and management of natural resources. The called on their respective governments not to relent on the revenues from natural resources translate to development, wealth, and good living standards for their citizens. They thanked the people and government of Togo for providing an atmosphere conducive for this exchange and experience sharing visit to hold without hitches. They also thanked Oxfam Novib for providing support for CISLAC and the Nigerian Delegation. They pledged to continue to seek ways of collaboration between them and their respective countries.
Signed:
Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani)
Executive Director, CISLAC
Mensah Todzro,
Coordinator, PWYP-Togo
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