By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja
Kogi State Government has inaugurated the Steering committee on Open Government Partnership, (OGP), towards sustaining the culture of transparency and accountability as a mark of good governance.
The Secretary to Kogi State Government, Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade gave this indication while inaugurating the committee on Tuesday on behalf of the state Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo
While inaugurating the committee, Mrs Ayoade said Kogi State has ever maintained the spirit of transparency and accountability, noting that the present administration has sustained the spirit.
Ayoade emphasized that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has so far displayed his political will to put smile on the faces of the people through inclusive governance.
She said involvement of citizens in governance was necessary for rapid development hence the global initiative should be emulated.
According to the SSG, the OGP was launched in 2011 for the benefit of mankind and expressed optimism that government would work in line with its commitment.
“The quest for good governance has been the yearning of well meaning Nigerians as this remains the only way to promote the well being of the people
“It was in line with this that the Present administration deemed it necessary to inaugurate the steering committee on Open Government Partnership, (OGP) to further proof its stance on accountability,” he said.
In his speech, the Co- Chairman and Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Asiwaju Idris Asiru stated that the immediate past administration built its successes on the principle of accountability as exemplified through open display of budgets and other vital information.
Asiwaju thanked NGOs for their partnership with government, adding that the state action plan will be properly implemented.
Also in his address, the Chairman of Kogi NGOs Network who is also the OGP Co-chairman, Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina emphasized that efforts should be intensified beyond inauguration, calling for proper collaboration to ensure inclusive governance.
The representative of OGP Secretariat in Abuja, Tijani Abdulrahman said the state action plan should be made available as it remains the only way to the attainment of set objectives.
Other Members of the state steering committee are some commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, as well as some heads of critical agencies, while the Vice Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists, Kogi State chapter, Alhaji Ibrahim Obansa is one of the non state actors.