Over 100 CSOs Join Jigawa Open Government Partnership To Drive Transparency in Governance
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
About 100 registered Civil Society and Community-Based organisations have joined the Jigawa State Open Government Partnership (OGP) to deepen advocacy for transparency in governance.
The organisations have been consolidated under the Non-State Actors Platform of the Open Government Partnership.
The Co-Chair of the platform, Comrade Isah Mustapha said they would work to push for Fiscal Transparency and Accountability, Access to Justice, Climate Change, and Anti-Corruption.
He said that the coalition had met in Dutse in line with OGP’s principles of inclusion and transparency and has begun the process of developing Jigawa State Action Plan III.
“As you can see, representatives of CSOs, CBOs, the private sector and the media are all here. Every organisation has equal opportunity to join, lead and contribute to the action plan. Since the OGP Step II leadership has ceased to exist, it became necessary to constitute a new and transparent leadership,” he explained.
Comrade Mustapha said the platform has adopted an open-door policy to encourage participation of organisations that have been duly registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission, and relevant (state and local government bodies.
“The current leadership will not allow any interference. Members will abide by acceptable procedures and guidelines to form their leadership structures within the thematic areas,” he stressed.
He revealed that while some thematic areas have one commitment, others may have two, depending on identified priorities.
“Our plan is to revive Jigawa OGP and make it competitive at the international level. We also intend to establish strong OGP structures across the 27 local government councils to promote accountability, transparency and openness in governance,” he stated.
Comrade Mustapha emphasised the need to monitor local government spending, contract awards and project implementation in light of financial autonomy at that tier of government.
He appealed to members for continued cooperation to position Jigawa as a model of inclusive governance and transparency in Nigeria and beyond under OGP Step III.
