CHIKA NNABUIFE
Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, has intensified its effort to deepen institutional and Policy Reforms signed on to in the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Anambra State is the third subnational in Nigeria to sign up to the OGP in June 2017.
The State has gone further to co-create an action plan with 5 thematic areas and 10 commitment areas which considerably aligns with the OGP core principles of citizen participation, accountability, integrity and transparency.
In view of the above the African Center for Leadership, Strategy and Development (center LSD) with the support of MacAuthur Foundation designed projects to promote transparency and accountability in governance with a goal to review and evolve the implementation of OGP in Anambra State.
Madam Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, thanked the partners for their unwavering support in ensuring that OGP initiatives evolve in the state. The commissioner reinstated that Anambra State under the Soludo Administration will continue to ensure that all principles of OGP are entrenched in the system of practice.
Her opening remark read in part, “Mr Governor’s commitment to the principles of OGP is evident in the quarterly town hall meetings, he holds with citizens, the automation of the procurement process by the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Govenor’s resolve to continue the ‘community choose Your Project Initiative’, citizens engagement and participation in policy making and budget formulation, and the development of a citizen engagement platform which is in process”.
The State is currently leading in the southeast in the adoption of OGP initiatives; she tasked the civil society organizations to engage in constructive Partnerships with the state Government to implement co-created commitments.
Our Partners, African Center for Leadership, Strategy, and Development and MacArthur Foundation, and Anambra State Open Alliance for working together were duly represented at the event. Both representatives stressed on co-creation as fundamental, noting the many benefits acruable to citizens who must be a part of it from the start.
Present at this meeting was Madam Commissioner for Transport, Barrister Pat Igwebuike; Mr. Joseph Uchendu (Director of NOA); Mr Monday Osasah (Exec. Dir, Centre LSD); Uchenna Arisukwu (OGP Seceteriat ); some civil servants, and members of the Press.