An official committee has been set up by the Kogi State government to oversee the implementation of the Open Government Partnership, ensuring active involvement of citizens in governance.
During the committee’s inauguration, the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade, highlighted that a culture of transparency and accountability has been present for the past eight years in the former administration of Yahaya Bello.
Dr. Ayoade explained that the Open Government Partnership is an international effort that seeks to elicit specific commitments from national and sub-national governments to promote open government, empower citizens, combat corruption, and leverage new technologies to enhance governance.
She emphasized that this initiative will position Kogi State on the global stage in terms of Transparency, Accountability, and Citizen Engagement.
“Introduced in 2011, the OGP offers a global platform for domestic reformists dedicated to making their governments more open, accountable, and responsive to their citizens.
“Today, our gathering is aimed at reaffirming the government’s dedication to issues of Transparency. The current administration, led by His Excellency Alhaji Usman Ododo, has been a frontrunner in practicing and upholding the principles of Open Government.
“Engaging citizens in governance has taken on a new level with the appointment of individuals across various government levels.
“Implementing OGP principles will provide a robust foundation to enhance the existing citizen participation nurtured within the State.
“The participation of Civil Society Organizations in this initiative presents a novel approach to ensure effective citizen involvement and foster accountability.
‘In this regard, I urge all members to embrace this global initiative for the advancement and prosperity of Kogi State,” stated the SSG.
Reports indicate that the Kogi State Commissioner for Finance Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Ashiru Idris, and the State Chairperson of Kogi NGO’s network, KOGONET, Idris Ozovehe Muriana, will serve as Co-Chairs of the State Steering Committee.