Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has congratulated civil society organisations (CSOs) in Kano State over the inauguration of the steering committee of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in the state.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, inaugurated the OGP steering committee during an executive council meeting at the Government House, Kano, in late February.
The OGP is an international initiative aimed at promoting open governance, citizen’s empowerment, fight corruption, and harness new technology to strengthen governance in member states.
The leadership of the committee consists of nine government officials, another nine experts from civil society groups and two more advisors from government.
‘CHRICED is of the view that the inauguration of the OGP steering committee is a milestone in the struggle to rid the governance space of accountability deficits’, Executive Director of CHRICED, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said in a statement.
‘The OGP committee, notwithstanding the challenges and contradictions, will be instrumental in driving initiatives and efforts to deepen transparency and accountability in governance through a process of cocreation.
‘The OGP as a multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote openness, will only succeed if it is driven by the aspirations of citizens working with their representatives in government.
‘CHRICED believes that with steadfast and strategic implementation of its key elements, the OGP process can become the platform for reformers inside and outside of government in Kano State to develop initiatives that promote transparency and strengthen citizens’ participation’.
The CSO called for creative thinking, impactful ideas and resilient execution of the OGP process to make it relevant in the lives of Nigerians in the state.
During the inauguration of the committee, the governor said, ‘We always believe that Open Government Partnership must be supported.
‘Hence our commitment and support since when it was introduced to us as a government during my first tenure in office’.
His colleague in Ekiti State, Governor Kayode Fayemi, had said in September 2020 that the OGP initiative would improve citizens’ standard of living.
The Ekiti governor made the remark while inaugurating the steering committee of OGP in the southwest state following the approval of Ekiti State as a member of the multi-stakeholder initiative.
Source: CHRICED
Photo source: Kano State Government
