NGO tasks Kogi Assembly to incorporate OGP in its oversight functions

The Initiative for Grassroot Advancement in Nigeria, (INGRA) in collaboration with Nigeria Civil Society situation room has charged lawmakers in the current eight Assembly in Kogi State to incorporate Open Government Partnership (OGP) into their oversight functions. 

Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that the Executive Director of INGRA Nigeria Hamza Aliyu gave the charge on Friday in Lokoja at a one day capacity building on Open Government Partnership, (OGP) for Kogi State House of Assembly members.

Aliyu noted that lawmakers should be conversant with the rudiment and important of OGP by availing themselves with necessary information on OGP.

"The OGP is a novel concept in terms of accountability and partnership between government and Citizens.  Sequel to Kogi State signing the OGP,  we observed that the House of Assembly has not been critically involved in the issues around the OGP. 

"As  components of the Government in terms of public finance management of Citizens resources, the House of Assembly is critical pointer were OGP should be domicile in terms of appropriation of funds for it budget and oversight function. 

"We expect the Kogi State House of Assembly to look into the issues of appropriation and their oversight function to ensure that what has been budgetted for are implemented. As stakeholders advocating for a better Kogi State, We are also expecting the lawmakers to use their constituency meetings to interrogate the process of how funds are spent in the State Aliyu stated.

In his paper presentation on "understanding the processes, challenges and dynamics of Legislators in the realization of Open Government Partnership at sub-nation level in Kogi State "the Executive Director, Conscience for Human Right and Conflict Resolutions, (CHRCR) Comrade Idris Miliki noted that necessary laws must be made to promote the principles of OGP.

According to him "The current Assembly should set up specific  committee on open Government Partnership and build a broad base partnership, particularly with the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to achieve the objectives and goals of OGP as a global concept".

"Despite various efforts by Organisations and particularly Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in advocating to government and its agencies to key into this global initiative, such efforts are yet to yield the desired results.

" However, there is an improvement in the efforts to get the OGP documents into reality through State Action Plan (SAP), that was developed by both State and Non-State Actors not too long ago. 

"We also need to acknowledged that the current administrations in Kogi State that have signed into OGP. Although we are a bit worried that the State Executive Council is yet to approve the State Action Plan SAP documents.

"It has also been discovered in Kogi State that the level of awareness on the principle of OGP in the State is not encouraging. The need to intensify media strategy and build networks around OGP among stakeholders is crucial".

The Chairperson, Kogi NGO- Network (KONGONET) Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina in his presentation on "analysis on the revised 2024 budget of Kogi State"asserted thatthe Kogi state 2024 approved revised budget offers promising signs regarding the state’s commitment to Open Government Partnership plans.

He opined that the allocation of N165,100,000 across key ministries, department, and agencies (MDA’s) suggests a deliberate move by the Kogi State Government to focus on achieving positive results.

His words "The Kogi State 2024 approved revised budget indicates a positive step towards increased transparency and citizens participation. Continued efforts towards implementing these initiatives through fund releases and ensuring public access to information will be crucial for Kogi State to fully realize the benefits of OGP members”.

The Chairman,  Kogi State House of Assembly Committee on Information and member representing Ogori Magongo State Constituency Hon Bode Ogunmola disclosed that the current lawmakers remain committed in ensuring transparency to enhance good governance in the State.

"The Open Government Partnership  is a welcome development. This will make government to be more transparent in their dealings with the people. We are learning more every day on how to do things better. As house of Assembly members, our responsibility is to make the law and see that the law that is passed is being adhered to.

" After approving the modalities of spending the money, it is for us to go back and find out if the money was spent in accordance to what was approved. If we are spending the money accordingly to the approved law, no one will run into crisis and the State will be better"he added.

It was learnt that the Open Government Partnership was launched on 20th September, 2011 to provide an international platform for domestic reformers to make their governments more open, accountable and responsive to citizens.

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