The report was presented in Abuja on Friday by the group’s Executive Director, Dr. Ifure Ataifure.

According to the organisation, the evaluation examined key indicators such as transparency, fiscal discipline, regulatory effectiveness, project implementation, public engagement, and overall contribution to national development goals.

Other agencies recognised among the country’s top-performing institutions include the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

The group explained that the rankings were based on several months of fieldwork, stakeholder engagement, and extensive monitoring of public institutions across major sectors of the economy.

Ataifure said the NEDC stood out for its intervention-focused development strategy in insurgency-affected communities across the North-East.

He noted that the commission has made significant impact through infrastructure reconstruction, healthcare services, humanitarian assistance, educational support, and programmes aimed at restoring livelihoods.

According to him, the NEDC has demonstrated clear dedication to post-conflict recovery and institutional accountability despite operating in one of Nigeria’s most challenging environments.

He added that at a time when public trust in many government agencies remains fragile, the commission has continued to show visible project delivery and effective coordination of development programmes in communities devastated by insurgency.

The report also stated that the NEDC’s grassroots-focused projects and active stakeholder engagement have helped improve public confidence in government interventions within affected regions.

In the telecommunications sector, the NCC was praised as one of Nigeria’s most efficiently managed regulatory institutions.

Ataifure said the commission has sustained regulatory consistency while advancing broadband growth, digital inclusion, investor confidence, and consumer rights.

He described the NCC as a strong example of regulatory excellence in the public sector, noting that its role in expanding digital access, maintaining communications stability, increasing broadband penetration, and boosting economic productivity has positioned telecommunications as one of Nigeria’s most resilient sectors.

The report further applauded the NCC for successfully balancing consumer protection with investor sustainability despite inflationary pressures and operational difficulties within the telecom industry.

Transparency Watch Initiative concluded that the performances of both the NEDC and NCC prove that effective governance is possible when institutions function with discipline, competence, and accountability.

Ataifure stressed that although public institutions must remain subject to scrutiny, agencies delivering measurable value to citizens should also be acknowledged to inspire higher standards across government.

He added that Nigeria’s broader development ambitions may remain difficult to realise without transparency, operational efficiency, and results-oriented governance across public institutions.