The Kano government says it is committed to strengthening accountability, transparency, and citizens’ participation in governance through the Open Government Partnership’s mechanism.

The senior special assistant to Governor Abba Yusuf on OGP, Musaddiq Kabir-Hassan, stated this shortly after the non-state actors’ election on Thursday in Kano.

He said that a few months ago, the governor appointed five commissioners, four permanent secretaries, and a director to serve on the government side of the OGP.

Mr Kabir-Hassan explained that the officials would work alongside elected representatives of civil society organisations to collaborate on key priority areas. He listed the areas as access to information, access to justice, citizens’ engagement, anti-corruption, service delivery, and climate change.

“The governor wants complete revitalisation of these critical and innovative sectors. In service delivery, we are working on agriculture, education, water supply, and health,” he said.

Mr Kabir-Hassan added that the government would also put in place a strong mechanism to ensure that the state’s Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission operates with full autonomy.

“I assure you that in three months’ time, you will see many projects driven by OGP,” Mr Kabir-Hassan said.

Uchenna Arisukwu, the civil society adviser, OGP Nigeria, said, “OGP survives only where there is political will.”

He therefore commended the governor, noting that even before assuming office, he was committed to promoting and implementing the OGP.

Abdulrahman Abdu, the newly elected co-chair of CSOs for Kano’s OGP, pledged to focus on uniting members who will work with the OGP. 

He said many CSOs do not know much about how the OGP operates, insisting that it is a partnership that requires commitment from both the government and the CSOs.

(NAN)