joshua
… to promote transparency, accountability and good governance
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF 1-DAY STAKEHOLDERS STRATEGIES MEETING ON THE OPEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP (OGP) IN KOGI STATE ORGANIZED BY THE CONSCIENCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION (CHRCR) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AFRICAN CENTRE FOR LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES AND DEVELOPMENT (CENTRE LSD)
PREAMBLE
In Kogi state, despite various efforts by organizations particularly Civil Society Organizations in advocating to government and its agencies to key into this global initiative, such efforts are yet to yield the desired result.
The need for review of ideas and strategies to improve the ongoing efforts to get government, civil society organizations, media and the generality of the citizens to get involved in this laudable global concept, towards improving Accountability and Transparency in governance.
OBJECTIVE OF THE MEETING
– To encourage Accountability, Transparency and to reduce corruption in Kogi State.
– To build on the existing Networks on Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability (NATA).
– To mobilize Media institutions and Practitioners in reporting activities on OGP in Kogi State.
ATTENDANCE
• Civil Society Organizations
• Media
• Youth Groups
• Committee Clerks from The State House of Assembly
OBSERVATIONS:
• Despite the importance of the OGP and that 16 states as at today in Nigeria. Have signed up, Kogi State is yet to sign-up this global concept
• There consistently seems to be a disconnect between what the multi- lateral financial organizations are rating Kogi State government on their achievements and the actual conditions of the citizens on ground
• That financial documents that the State government proactively sends out to the citizens online seem to be different from what is given to other sources
• There seems to be a poor relationship between the Government and the Civil Society Organizations in Kogi State
• The current Kogi State House of Assembly are in-adequately performing its constitutional duties in terms of oversight functions to Agencies and Local Government Councils, which are constitutionally under the mandate of the Legislature
• The consistent deliberate absence of key Ministries Agencies and Departments (MDAs) particularly the Ministries of Finance, Budget and Planning and Ministry of Information, in participating in activities organized by the Civil Society organizations despite duly invited
RECOMMENDATIONS
After exhaustive deliberations, participants made the following recommendations
• Call on the present Government in Kogi State to sign-up to the Open Government Partnership (OGP) as a matter of urgency to promote transparency, accountability and good governance
• The multi-lateral financial institutions particular the World Bank must begin to hold Kogi State Government accountable by verifying the situations of implementations on ground before rating the state on any of its financed projects
• There ought not to be a rivalry between the Civil Society Organizations in the State and the State Government as both work in the interest of the citizens. There is need for a broad based relationship partnership
• There is need for the current House of Assembly members to live up to their constitutional responsibilities in performing their oversight function on all institutions of the state particularly the local government councils
• There is need for the Media practitioners to take more interest in OGP issues and partner more with the Civil Society organizations in particular and other relevant institutions
• The Civil Society Organizations needs to do more in raising awareness and sensitization of the general public on the OGP and with the Government to get the OGP
• There is need for the development partners to continue to work with the Civil Society Organizations in the state to promote the OGP process.
CONCLUSION
Participants urged the organizers to do more to realise the objectives of the OGP as a global concept in the state
______________________________________
IDRIS MILIKI ABDUL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHRCR
