ANAMBRA OGP WEEK: HEEDING THE GLOBAL CALL TO STRENGTHEN CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE

By Prince Chris Azor

Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a voluntary, multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to Promote Transparency, Accountability, Empower Citizens, Fight corruption, and Harness new technologies to strengthen governance.

Globally, OGP was formally launched on September 20, 2011, with eight (8) founding governments (Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States)
Nigeria in 2016, became the 70th member.

Nigeria joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) to deepen governance reforms as well as promote the fight against corruption in the country.

Since sign up, the country has developed three (3) National Action Plans (NAP) across critical thematic areas and sectors with commitments.

The need to replicate national reform initiatives at the sub-national levels gave rise to OGP initiative in Anambra State. This is imperative for the obvious reason that more than 50% of public revenue is expended at the State and local government levels. Hence the idea to ensure similar transparency, accountability and citizens participation at the sub-national level. More so, critical mass of the people reside in States and local government areas that deserve better service delivery and improved welfare.

Anambra State became the first to sign up to OGP in the entire southern Nigeria. This is historic and remarkable.

The State joined Nigeria and the rest of the World to mark this year’s Global Open Government Week, with sundry activities ranging from workshops, seminars, media engagements etc.

It’s therefore, important for all stakeholders to understand what OGP is all about and how they can be part of the OGP initiative.

OGP is unique in its mantra of co-creation between the government and Non State Actors as a new model of State reform and modernization of public administration to improve its value for delivery of public services in an equal and reciprocal manner. It is based on an innovative way of coordinating transparency initiatives, citizen participation, and stakeholder collaboration.

Anambra OGP State Action Plan (SAP) consists of five (5) thematic areas with Ten (10) commitments that address the peculiarities and environmental issues facing the State. However, the vision extends beyond the five (5) thematic areas of
Fiscal transparency, Anti-corruption, Access to information, Citizen engagement, Climate change in line with Governor Charles Soludo administration’s focus on improved security, enhanced service delivery, enlarged space for civic participation and increased transparency.

Mr Governor left no one in doubt of his good governance philosophy when, at inauguration he declared his policy of open governance.
This is fully captured in the five (5) pillars of his administration. To wit; law and order (homeland peace and security), economic transformation, competitive and progressive social agenda (education, health, youth, women and vulnerable groups), rule of law and a rebirth of the people’s value system, and aggressive tackling of the existential threat posed by the environment with the aim of achieving a clean, green and sustainable cities, communities and markets.

All these are in sync with OGP thematic areas and Commitments.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake is fully in charge coordinating the implementation in her capacity as the State Actors’ Co-chair, OGP.

Madam Commissioner has the full assistance and support of the OGP State Focal Person, Mrs Ogochukwu Orji.

Anambra State OGP implementation has therefore, resulted in sundry good governance reforms and sustainable development accomplishments.

The State has expanded citizen participation in the budget process, through inclusion of civil Society and Non State in annual bilateral discussions.
The State’s budget is currently online, a feat that earned the State, cash rewards under the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability(SFTAS), a world bank Performance for Result (PforR) Project.

There is an established desk in all MDAs attending to Citizens’ Community Charter of Demands (CCD) on the budget and general development process.
This is implemented, through Town Hall Meetings, where desired projects are extracted from a scale of preference, and submitted to the coordinating Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning for consideration.

The State has operationalized the Public Procurement Process, through the enactment of a new Public procurement Law and constitution of a Public Procurement Bureau, for due process, transparency and accountability.

Land and property administration in the State has been fully digitized for efficiency and effectiveness.

There is currently on going joint project Monitoring and Evaluation by State and Non State Actors, working together for good governance.

Anambra State is now one of the foremost performing entities in the Ease of Doing Business ranking.

Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) has been transformed into a full fledged Corporation, for better service delivery.

For effective and regular citizen engagement there’s now quarterly Media briefing by Mr Governor at a no holds barred accountability forum.

However, all the listed milestones are not devoid of challenges.

Resources (material and financial) are never enough to address the humongous developmental initiatives.
The State is not immune from the current global economic meltdown.

COVID-19 pandemic came with its attendant socio- economic disruptions and dislocations of lives and livelihoods.

The palpable challenges of insecurity are being frontally tackled with remarkable success.

With the unwavering commitment of the SOLUTION government, it’s expected that there’s going to be consolidation of the record achievements, for accelerated implementation of OGP commitments.

The State Government is making conscious effort at raising revenue/ resources, through positive disruptive and innovative strategies.

This is where unalloyed support and Civic responsibilities of the citizens are earnestly solicited for desired result.

In concluding, OGP is a renewed social contract that has redefined partnership as the first condition of good governance. A new narrative that places participation of the people in their government, as sine qua non for integrity, peace and development.

The Civil Society and all other stakeholders need to be resolutely united in partnering with the government to achieve set objectives and commitments.

As we conclude activities marking this year’s Global OGP Week, let us collectively heed the “global call to transform the way governments serve their citizens” while
Strengthening participation of the people in governance.