Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Members of the Bauchi State Steering Committee for the implementation of Open Government Partnership (OGP) have all expressed their optimism towards mainstreaming the OGP initiative into Governance in Bauchi State.
Some of the members, drawn from Government MDAs and CSOs, shared their hopes and expectations with our correspondent at the just concluded OGP State Action Plan Development Workshop organised by USAID State2State Bauchi Field office.
First to share his thoughts was the secretary of the steering committee Mallam Lawal Bako. He said that already Bauchi State Government has created the enabling environment for mainstreaming the OGP initiative through the State Social Protection Policy that was recently granted executive approval.
According to Bako, “with the policy in place, a framework for seamless mainstreaming of open government partnership availed itself. One of the major component of the social protection policy focuses in providing succour to the most vulnerable groups in line with global best practices which the OGP seeks to archive”.
Also sharing her enthusiasm on the OGP State Action Plan (SAP), the National Secretary of the Women Wing of the Christian Council of Nigeria Dr. Mrs. Mercy John said that OGP initiative was long overdue and that it is a welcome development for the state, which she described as “giving listening ears to citizens by the Government”.
“This is a good development for CSOs and by extension the citizens of Bauchi State. For sometime now, we have been agitating for a platform to engage Government on issues bordering on Good Governance. I am happy to note that OGP has provided the much needed platform for Government and CSOs to interface with a view to carrying the generality of citizens along in Governance”, said Dr. John.
Speaking on the outcome of Workshop, one of the state actors, a permanent secretary in the Bauchi State civil service, Barrister Ahmed Sani Umar commended the enthusiasm of the participants, pointing out that, “this has shown clearly that both State and non State actors shares deep concern and care for citizens of Bauchi State. The OGP is a great initiative that is in line with democratic tenets. Democracy is a system that is being driven by the people and for the people which, i believe, is what OGP seeks to achieve”.
The permanent secretary also commended Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed for creating the enabling environment and keying into OGP process.
Also expressing his views, the Bauchi State Chairman, Executive Forum of Directors of CSOs, Mallam Sodangi Adam Chindo said that the State Action Plan that was developed by the State OGP Steering Committee was anchored on setting priorities of the people , aimed at galvanizing government to action. He commended the active participation of State actors in developing the SAP.
Sodangi also called on the citizens of Bauchi State to participate in the Open Government Partnership process with a view to having a say in matters that affects how they are being Govern.
“I want to particularly commend the active participation of the State Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning for being part of SAP development workshop. When you have such commitments, it speaks volumes and also send signals to other State actors on the seriousness of the initiative”, said Sodangi.
Another CSO participant Ibrahim Hussaini of Heal Disability Initiative Bauchi, Mallam Ibrahim Hussaini was particularly enthusiastic by one of the thematic areas of OGP that focuses on social inclusion.
“As representative of persons with disability, the inclusion of the social inclusion thematic area in the SAP has once again boosted our morale. I sincerely hope that what was articulated in the SAP will be implemented to the latter. I also want to use this opportunity to thank USAID State2State for always including PWDs in their activities. I hope such collaboration will pave the way for Government to start paying attention to our special needs in the areas of employment, user friendly environments and support, to reach our full potentials in life”, Mallam Hussaini said.
While lending his voice on the assessment of SAP Workshop, CSO Advisor of OGP at the National Secretariat Mr. Uchenna Aruchukwu said that Bauchi seemed promising in the implementation of the OGP and that , that is something to cheer.
“I have seen commitment and demonstration of political will on the part of the Bauchi Government to drive the OGP process. It is a good development.
“I have also seen vibrant CSOs that are quite engaging and also interrogating the process in an effort to know what their roles are in the implementation of the State OGP SAP.
“OGP survives on political will, support and investment and, looking at the calibre of both the State and Non State actors, we are hopeful that Bauchi State will be a reference point to be under studied by other States”, enthused the OGP Advisor.
Our correspondent reports that Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a global multilateral forum consisting of 78 Countries and 76 sub- nationals, who have committed to various transparency and accountability reforms, for improved service delivery to their citizenry. These reforms are premised on policy and institutional setup, with the active and equal participation of CSOs in ensuring a more coordinated approach to its implementation.
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