By Michael Peter
Abuja: The African Center for Leadership Strategy and Development, Center LSD has urged the Nigerian Government to follow through with the National Action Plan, NAP, as part of commitment towards the implementation of the Open Government Partnership, (OGP) Initiative.
The Open Government Partnership of which Nigeria became the 70th Country to join in July 2016, is an international multi – stakeholder initiative, launched on 20 September 2011 to provide an international platform for domestic reformers to make their governments more open, accountable and responsive to citizens.
The partnership is governed by four key principles; Fiscal Transparency, Access to Information, Anti- Corruption and asset Disclosure and Citizens engagement.
The Center LSD Programme Director, Monday Osasah held that if the Nigerian government fails to abide by the principles of the partnership, it stands the risk of being kicked out of the partnership.
According to him; “The President made that committed last year and all of that commitment was brought to Nigeria. Right now we have OGP Secretariat in Nigeria that has gone ahead to create a National Action Plan that was a co-creation of government and the citizens, so if the country fails to implement the principles of the partnership, the international community will deem it as unserious and that may cost it its place in the partnership”.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, on Tuesday, Mr. Osasah disclosed that the Center is “currently implementing a 3-year project titled; Promoting Accountability in Nigeria through Engagement and Implementation of the Open Government Partnership, OGP”, with fundings from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation”.
In driving the Project towards actualisation, Mr. Osasah noted that the Center is engaging in major key activities which it believes that if implemented, can help achieve some measure of accountability governance in Nigeria.
“Part of these activities is to support the Open Alliance through a two day training and capacity workshop, advocating for the implementation of the OGP in Nigeria through organised rallies, road shows in the 6 geopolitical zones, Town hall meetings, media engagements”.
He also disclosed that part of the key activities is a Government/CSO roundtable to hold in September 12, 2017 in Abuja, which will culminate into the production of a Shadow Report on the Implementation of the OGP/NAP in Nigeria to shadow the government’s report.
