- Stakeholders Tasks Kogi Government on implementation of Open Government Partnership (OGP)
Stallion Times Media Services has called on Governor Usman Ododo to begin process to hold regular townhall meetings with the people of Kogi state to foster citizen inclusion in governance.
Isiyaku Ahmed, Managing Director of Stallion Times, made the call during a one-day capacity building on Permanent Dialogue Mechanism (PDM) in Lokoja on Saturday.
He recalled that periodic town hall meeting was one of the key commitments the governor made during his electioneering campaigns.
He urged the government to display enough political will and commitment to the implementation the Open Government Partnership (OGP) state Action Plan by upholding its promise of Dialogue Mechanism.
“If this continues throughout the four-year life span of an administration, it becomes a Permanent Dialogue Mechanism and if it is yielding results, successive governments will have no option than to sustain it.
“The tool to make this happen is the OGP which is a tool for transparency and accountability with different thematic areas touching on every aspect of the economy,” he said.
Stakeholders at the workshop, who consists of civil society organisations, faith based groups, government representatives and the media, called on Governor Ododo to deploy adequate political will for implementation of the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
They commended the government for the approval and subsequent inauguration of the state steering committee for OGP.
They, however, said the need to validate the State Action Plan SAP has become necessary to fast track the inclusion of the people in the programmes and policies of government as it concerns the well-being of the citizenry.
In his goodwill message to the occasion, Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Media, Ismail Isah, said the Governor was committed to the ideals of openness in governance.
He said that it was against this backdrop that the governor had led a transparent and accountable government in the last 90 days.
“We are proud of Stallion Times and the partnership to promote dialogue among stakeholders for the development of the society,” Isah said.
Co-Chairman of the Kogi State OGP Steering Committee, Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina, said the committee was committed to fostering transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.
“This capacity building session marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards building open, inclusive, and responsive government systems that truly serve the needs and aspirations of our citizens.
“The establishment of a robust Permanent Dialogue Mechanism is crucial in ensuring that the voices of all stakeholders, including civil society organizations, government agencies, and citizens are heard and integrated into the decision-making processes of the state,” Muraina said.
The OGP Steering Committee Co-Chairman commended the Stallion Times team for their unwavering dedication to advancing the principles of open government and for their commitment to driving positive change across their project sites in Nigeria.
