The National Coordinator, Nigeria
Open Government Partnership, (OGP), Dr. Gloria Ahmed has extolled the role of
the Africa Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) as a
driving force in the entrenchment of OGP in Nigeria. She made this known when
she led a courtesy visit with members of the OGP Secretariat to Centre LSD.
In her opening remarks, Dr.
Gloria appreciated Centre LSD and its management led by the Executive Director Mr.
Monday Osasah for their sustained support towards OGP implementation in Nigeria
since inception. She stated that more than 20 states in Nigeria have signed up
to the OGP thus far. However, she lamented that not much have been documented
and reported in terms of results from the sub-nationals. The National
Coordinator stated that the National Secretariat is planning to hold a National
Review Conference to determine the status of OGP implementation in Nigeria.
The NC further revealed the
Secretariat's plan to pay a courtesy visit to the Secretary to the Government
of the Federation where he would be briefed on the OGP in order to galvanise
the needed policy support for OGP implementation in Nigeria.
She appealed that Centre LSD as
the Civil Society Co-Chair on the Extractive Transparency thematic Working
Group and having served twice on the National Steering Committee should bring
their wealth of experience in the implementation of NAP III.
In his response, Mr. Monday
Osasah, charged the OGP team to create more visibility for OGP because a lot of
Nigerians are unaware of OGP. He also revealed that people need to be
sensitized about the principles of the OGP which is anchored on accountability,
transparency, openness and civic engagement He encouraged the National
Secretariat to intensify on her advocacy visits to include Governors and other
critical stakeholders of the OGP.
While speaking on the planned OGP
National Review Conference, he advised that it should serve as a peer review
and learning event where OGP stakeholders will share learning and best
practices. He added that Sub-National governments that are global OGP members like
Kaduna, Plateau and the FCT should be projected to share their success stories,
innovations, challenges and mitigation measures for shared learning during the
conference. He lauded the idea and obliged the availability of Centre LSD in
supporting the Conference.
The OGP Civi Society Adviser, Mr.
Uchenna Arisukwu, while speaking, said the Centre LSD occupies a place of pride
in OGP Nigeria, he intimated members that in the early years of OGP
implementation in Nigeria, funding solely came from Civil Societies/Partners such
as Centre LSD before the federal Government created a budget line for it in
2021.
He further informed that among
the 75 countries Signed up to the OGP, Nigeria acts as a role model to some
countries as Nigeria's Sub-National OGP is among the few that is very
effective.
Mr. Uchenna revealed that other
countries have come to learn the Open Alliance strategy in Nigeria to go
replicate in their countries with regards to Civil Society involvement. He said
intentional efforts are being put in place to effectively implement the third
National Action Plan (NAP III) with a hindsight of the lapses experienced under
NAP I and II. He added that Nigeria cannot afford to fail in delivering on its
commitments under NAP III.
He called on the Executive
Director to channel his wealth of experience towards enriching the activities
of the extractive transparency thematic working group with a view to
co-creatively deliver on the OGP commitments towards a reform oriented Nigeria.
Having identified Centre LSD as a worthy
partner from inception, the team extolled the technical resource of the center
and called on it to extend its support to states especially those that are
lagging behind in the development and implementation of their State Action Plans.
Dr. Emenike Umesi who is the
Director, Leadership of the Centre appreciated the OGP team for their
consistency over time, he promised that the Centre is open to lend their
technical support. He concluded by encouraging states to take advantage of the
leadership training programmes run by Centre LSD to provide the needed
technical capacity for facilitating reforms.
