State and Non State actors in Ebonyi State have renewed their collective Commitment toward advancing the goals of Open Government Partnership for better service delivery in the State.
The commitment was the climax of a four-day meeting of the actors in Abakaliki, with representatives of the OGP national secretariat.
The meeting, Onboarding of OGP Steering Committee and State Action Plan Review, held from the 1st to 4th of August, was sponsored by the State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness, State2State project in Ebonyi State.
State actors comprising representatives of major Ministries, departments and Agencies of government was led by the Principal Secretary to Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Emmanuel Obasi while the Non State actors comprising Civil Society Organisations was led by the Executive Director, Development and Integrity Intervention Goals, (DIG) Foundation, Chief Oliver Aja Chima.
Both Obasi and Chima are Co-chairmen representing State and Non State actors respectively, in the OGP initiative.
The group reviewed the existing thematic areas of the OGP State Action plan comprising of fiscal transparency, access to information and Citizen engagement, and agreed to introduce peace building and conflict management into document.
They further reviewed and endorsed the action plan commitment as follow: ensure effective implementation of public procurement and fiscal responsibility laws and policies in the State; improve ease of doing business, tax transparency and revenue generation.
They further agreed on commitment to ensure regular platform for citizens engagement with the government in policy issues, especially in the budgeting process; citizens access to government – held information, as well as ensure collaboration for peaceful coexistence in Ebonyi State.
Addressing participants during the event, the OGP National CSO Advisor, Uchenna Arisukwu, decried the hitherto dormant status of OGP initiative in Ebonyi State.
He urged the OGP steering Committee in the State to rise up in defence of their commitment to ensure that the gains of Open Government Partnership are enjoyed by all and sundries in the State, or risk being delisted.
Arisukwu described OGP as a global coalition of reformers from government and the Civil Society, working to make governance transparent, participatory and accountable to truly serve and empower citizens.
Emma Obasi, speaking for the government side acknowledged the contributions of CSOs in the State towards improving governamce and service delivery, pledging to sustain the renaisant relationship.
Obasi said: “For me as a person, this is a very good development.
“If Nigeria had keyed into the OGP from 1999 when democracy came on board, and sustained it aggressively, and empowered OGP, I think we could have done better.
“Even these crises we are facing now, economically, educationally, security and otherwise, wouldn’t have been there.
” I pray that God will help us to fully achieve our OGP target, and become the first in the country in the implementation of our State Action Plan.”
Chima of DIG Foundation, pledged on behalf of the CSOs, to continue to effectively work with State Actors to identify issues, solutions and reforms in governance in the State.
He appreciated the present government in the State for recognizing and providing conducive atmosphere for the contributions of organised CSOs in governance.
Among other issues discussed during the event are: History of OGP and Gender inclusiveness handled respectively by Arisukwu and Ejiro Okorie, the Gender and Social inclusion Specialist for State2State.
Recall that Nigeria met the eligibility criteria for OGP in 2014. Presently, 23 States plus the FCT has signed into the OGP initiative in Nigeria.
The States which have signed in are: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Kogi, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Ondo, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Zamfara and Sokoto.
