A group under the aegis of African Center for Leadership, Strategy and Development LSD has called on all the governors in the south south regions of Nigeria to sign up to the Open Government Partnership OGP, saying that such would encourage accountability, transparency, as well as citizens participation in governance.
In a south-south rally held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Thursday, the group disclosed that no fewer than nine states in Nigeria had signed up to the Open Government partnership initiatitive noting that south south governors are yet to sign up.
The South South zonal coordinator of the group, Uche Eliogu who spoke to some journalists before the rally added that OGP is an international multi-stakeholder global coalition which has domestically driven initiative.
According to him, ” OGP seeks to promote transparency, accountability, citizen participation in government and the use of technology and innovation to make government more open.”
“We want the state government to sign up to OGP, so that they can domesticate the process. The people should understand the process to hold government accountable in their responsibilities.
He said OGP is in line with President Buhari administration objective of fighting corruption, adding that it will open up governance to accountability and transparency.
“when President Muhammadu Buhari came into power he said one of his cardinal objectives is to fight corruption and we all know that corruption thrives in secrecy, the OGP seeks to open up governance processes to make it transparent, accountable , it is a global partnership ”
He added that the rally has gained acceptance throughout the regions they have being across the country
Also speaking, Mr Bolton Akpan, an executive director of Policy Alert said, “We are living in the internet age where digital media has taken over technology simplified processes but unfortunately the government are stuck in the past and that keeps making government more secretive and vulnerable to corruption ”
On the transparency and accountability on the side of Akwa Ibom State government, Akpan said “there is no accountability, there are no rules governing public procurement, we need to have fiscal responsibility law to set standards on spending of the public funds , we do not have that law in Akwa Ibom State. The State House of Assembly passed the bill but it is on the table of governor without signature.”
Speaking further, Akpan said that the time for the action was appropriate for it will open the eyes of the citizens and help them ask questions on how their funds are being utilized
“there could not be a better time than now, because something looking very bad could be a very good thing in disguise. Now people are talking about engineering and asking mandate, so it is important for the issue of openness in government to be one of the key questions that should border between the citizens and those asking for vote” He said
