By Ogalla Daniel
Members of the Kogi State House of Assembly, have visited the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Secretariat in Lokoja as part of efforts tailored towards reinforcing collaboration for effective governance and service delivery in the state.
The visit further reaffirms the lawmakers commitment towards supporting stakeholders as they strive to strengthen transparency, accountability, and collaboration between government and citizens in the state.
Speaking during the visit, member representing Ogori /Mangongo State Constituency, Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon Bode Ogunmola, said that partnership remains important in ensuring that governance reaches the grassroots.
“The Open Government Partnership programme is fairly new in the state, but it is important that we ensure its benefits reach the grassroots. With the support of the governor and other stakeholders, we believe the programme is on the right path,” he said.
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He added that the Assembly would continue engaging stakeholders with a view to domesticating some of the initiatives to suit the state’s development priorities.
Similarly, Hon. Enefola Major representing Igalamela-Odolu State Constituency, Kogi State House of Assembly, commended civil society organizations for their commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
He emphasised the need for improved information dissemination to ensure citizens are well informed about the objectives and benefits of the programme.
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed optimism that with increased collaboration between government, civil society, and the legislature, the Open Government Partnership would strengthen public trust and improve service delivery in the state.
The Head of the Open Government Partnership Secretariat, Kogi State, Mr. Bayode E.O, while speaking, explained that the Open Government Partnership is a multilateral initiative designed to promote transparent and accountable governance through collaboration between government institutions and civil society organizations.
According to him, the platform provides an avenue for government and civil society groups to work together in ensuring that governance is carried out efficiently and responsibly.
Mr. Bayode said the partnership focuses on key areas such as transparency, accountability, and evidence-based governance to ensure that public officials are held responsible for their actions.
“The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral body created for government and civil society to work together to ensure governance is done in an efficient manner.
We focus on areas like transparency, accountability and also provide evidence to ensure that those entrusted with public responsibility are held accountable,” he said.
Also speaking, the Co-Chairman, Non-State Actor of the OGP Secretariat Kogi, Ambassador Idris Meraina, described the initiative as a platform that allows government and citizens to jointly design strategies for development.
He noted that the partnership encourages collaboration through a process known as “co-creation,” where both government officials and civil society representatives jointly develop and implement policies aimed at improving governance.
Ambassador Meraina explained that civil society organizations, including the Initiative for Grassroots Advancement, support the OGP Secretariat in strengthening service delivery and implementing commitments contained in the State Action Plan.
He, however, identified funding and staffing as major challenges affecting the effectiveness of the Secretariat.
“One of the challenges is the need to institutionalize the OGP so that it will have a budget line from the state government. There are also issues around staffing and human resources because we need permanent staff to strengthen the capacity of the office,” he said.
He added that although the State Government provides monthly subventions through the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the funds remain insufficient to fully implement the partnership’s activities.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of the Initiative for Grassroots Advancement In Nigeria (INGRA) Hamiza Aliyu, commended members of the Eighth Assembly for visiting the Secretariat, noting that the gesture demonstrates the legislature’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.
Aliyu explained that the OGP initiative originated from discussions at the United Nations General Assembly in 2011 aimed at addressing the growing distrust between citizens and governments.
He said Nigeria joined the partnership in 2016, while Kogi State officially became a member in 2022 after sustained advocacy by civil society groups.
According to him, the state has since developed a State Action Plan for 2024–2026, which outlines key commitments aimed at improving governance and service delivery.
He stated that the plan focuses on four thematic areas and five major commitments, including fiscal transparency, procurement transparency, service delivery, extractive sector transparency, and access to information.
Aliyu further disclosed that civil society organizations have been actively supporting the implementation of the plan through capacity building and monitoring of government institutions.
He cited the recent launch of service charters for selected ministries, departments, and agencies as part of efforts to improve service delivery and provide citizens with channels to report complaints.
“The service charter outlines the mandates of ministries, their responsibilities, and provides contact persons for citizens who have complaints about service delivery,” he explained.
Despite the progress recorded, Aliyu noted that some ministries and agencies responsible for implementing aspects of the State Action Plan are yet to fully comply with their commitments.
He said the civil society community is working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the plan before the end of the review period in 2026.
Aliyu also stressed the need for the OGP Secretariat to be formally institutionalized with a dedicated budget line to enable it operate more effectively.
He added that independent assessors are expected to evaluate the level of implementation of the State Action Plan by the end of 2026.
The visit by lawmakers is expected to strengthen legislative oversight and encourage greater support for the OGP initiative in Kogi State as efforts continue to promote open and accountable governance.
