Kogi State government has inaugurated the steering committee on the Open Government Partnership to ensure citizens participation in governance.
The secretary to the state government (SSG) Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade who inaugurated the State Steering Committee explained that transparency and accountability have been in existence in the past eight years of immediate past administration of Yahaya Bello.
Ayoade explained that open government partnership is a multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from national and sub-national governments to promote open government, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.
She noted that this is a programme that will place Kogi State in the global map in the areas of transparency, accountability and citizen participation.
“OGP was launched in 2011 to provide an international platform for domestic Reformers who are ready to make their government Open and Accountable and Responsive to citizens.
“So today, we are gathered to reinforce and reiterate government’s commitment to issues of Transparency. As we all know the present administration under the dynamic leadership of His Excellency Alhaji Usman Ododo has been in the forefront in practicing and implementing the principles of open government.
‘The involvement of citizens in governance has assumed a whole new dimension with the appointment of men and women in all levels of government.
“Adopting the OGP principles will provide a stronger platform that will deepen the existing citizen participation that is already fostered in the state.
“The involvement of civil society organisations (CSOs) in this programme is also a new way of ensuring effective citizens participation and ensuring accountability.
“It is in this light that I enjoin all the members to buy into this global initiative for the growth and prosperity of Kogi State,” the SSG posited.
The state commissioner for finance, budget and economic planning, Asiwaju Ashiru Idris and the state chairman of KOGONET, Muriana Ozovehe, are expected to co-chair the state steering committee.
