Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Monday inaugurated the steering committee of Open Government Partnership (OGP), to further demonstrate his administration’s commitment to open governance, transparency, and accountability.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that OGP is an international multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at promoting open governance, citizen’s empowerment, fight corruption, and harness new technology to strengthen member states.
Fayemi, who inaugurated the committee at the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, said the OGP initiative was in consonance with his restoration agenda as clearly spelled out in the five pillars of his administration.
The steering committee, which is to be coordinated by the Commissioner for Budget, Mr. Femi Ajayi, had the Director-General Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), Prof. Mobolaji Aluko as a member.
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Special Adviser, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr O’seun Odewale; Permanent Secretary (Finance) Mr Folorunso; Permanent Secretary (Budget) Mr Adeleke Adefolaju; Accountant General, Mrs Titilayo Olayinka and Special Adviser, Mr. Biodun Oluleye.
Others include Prof. Oluwadare C.T, Olafunsho Olajide from Disability Not a Barrier Initiative; President, Ekiti Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Chief Kola Akosile; and Representative of the Institution of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Mrs Agbaje.
Members of the steering committee, according to the Governor, were selected from civil society organizations, professional bodies, youth parliaments, public service, and other interest groups.
This was to ensure more commitment from the government to promote open governance, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technology to strengthen governance in Ekiti State.
The Governor explained that his administration had always prioritized inclusion of the needs and aspirations of towns and communities in the State’s annual budgets
He said that the OGP initiative would increase collaboration between government and other stakeholders to improve the standard of living of the people in the state.
“The Open Government Partnership initiative will also promote more collaboration work within government by promoting mutual accountability, information sharing and coordination among MDAs.
“This will promote efficiency in government and delivery of the goals of the five pillars,” he said.
Fayemi explained that OGP would further strengthen his administration’s reforms in open budget, open contracting, revenue transparency, beneficial ownership transparency, assets disclosure, access to information, citizens’ engagement and empowerment.
Ekiti being the first State to join OGP in South-western Nigeria, Fayemi expressed delight that his administration’s efforts at deepening good governance and embracing inclusive participation were gaining recognition at the international level.
According to him, as a responsible government, we always insisted that all government functionaries demonstrated an understanding of accountability and transparency in their various activities.
“The policy areas are the right to information, gender and inclusion, digital governance and rights, protection of civic space and natural resources, and fight against corruption.
“The OGP was launched in 2011 with eight (8) founding member government. In July 2016 Nigeria, through the efforts of Open Alliance, joined the partnership as a 70th member country.
“To deepen ongoing institutional and policy reforms in Ekiti State, we applied for membership of Open Government Partnership in October 2019, the application was graciously approved,” he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Development, Mr. Femi Ajayi stated that the initiative involved engaging citizens in governance, adding that the benefits of the partnership were enormous.
Ajayi said that such a partnership, if well-coordinated would cement the already cordial relationship between the government and the civil society.