Committee on open Government partnership, inaugurated in Kogi State

Kogi State government has inaugurated a steering committee on the Open Government Partnership, to ensure the participation of citizens in governance.

Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that the Secretary to Kogi State Government, Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade, who inaugurated the State Steering Committee, explained that transparency and accountability have been in existence in past eight years of immediate past administration of Yahaya Bello.

Ayoade averred 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 the program will put 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 Governments’ 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 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 in this programme is also a new way of ensuring effective citizens participation and ensuring accountability. 

'It is in this light that | enjoin all the members to by-in into this global Initiative for the growth and prosperity of Kogi State, SSG posited  

It was learnt that, the Kogi State Commissioner for Finance Budget and Economic Planning Asiwaju Ashiru Idris and the State Chairperson, Kogi NGO's network, (KOGONET), Idris Ozovehe Muriana are expected to co-Chair the State Steering Committee .

In his speech, the Co- Chairman and commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris  stated that the immediate past administration built its successes on the principle of accountability as exemplified through open display of budgets and other vital information.

Asiwaju thanked NGOs for their partnership with government, adding that the state action plan will be properly implemented.

Also, Another Co-chairman, Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina emphasized that efforts should be intensified beyond inauguration, calling for proper collaboration to ensure inclusive governance.

The representative of OGP Secretariat in Abuja, Tijani Abdulrahman said the the state action plan should be made available as it remains the only way to attainment of set objectives.

Other Members of the state state steering committee are some commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, as well as some heads of critical agencies.

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