Kano OGP Aligns Action Plan with State’s Plans & Policies

August 12, 2021 03:34:33 PM Published by: PERL

In 2018, to consolidate the state’s commitment to fiscal transparency, and public participation, the Kano State Governor, His Excellency, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, signed an Executive Order formalizing the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Over the past three years, the partnership has influenced improved service delivery in several communities and better budget transparency, with budget information now published on the state’s official website. Towards these achievements, PERL supported the establishment of the OGP in Kano, embedding its principles of co-creation. Further, the programme provided technical assistance to develop its first two-year Action Plan, preliminary costing of the plan as well as facilitated learning exchanges and participation at the Global OGP Summit. On the 24th of February 2021, the Governor of Kano State passed the baton of leadership by inaugurating a new steering committee for the next two-year tenure. Building on the successes and lessons so far, the incumbent OGP State Steering Committee set out to develop the second State Action Plan (SAP II), ensuring that it is realistic, aligns with state’s plans through the budget instrument, and mainstreams Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) across the six thematic areas.

   

In preparation to support the development of the SAP II, PERL facilitated the induction of the new State Steering Committee members, reflecting on the principles and operations of the OGP, in addition to a preliminary review of the SAP I, to establish protocols and source data to inform the revision. This led to a consolidated review and drafting of the 2021-2023 State Action Plan in a technical session also supported by PERL, which held on the 6th and 7th of August 2021. The sessions were structured according to the thematic areas of:

·       Fiscal Transparency;

·       Access to Information;

·       Access to Justice;

·       Citizens Engagement;

·       Anti-Corruption; and

·       Service Delivery.

While opening the SAP II Development Session, the acting Chairman of the Public Complaints & Anti-Corruption Commission, Barrister Balarabe Mahmoud, assured members of government’s commitment to a co-creative process, towards the successful implementation of the action plan. The government co-chair, Hajiya Binta F. Salihu, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, on behalf of the partnership, extended gratitude to PERL for its responsiveness and disposition to provide assistance to the OGP, adding that the support is unquantifiable and is always appreciated. The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) co-chair, Abdulrazaq Alqali, affirmed that there are already traces of early successes with the co-creation model between government and civil society actors.

 

PERL will continue to provide technical assistance to strengthen the linkage between the National and the state OGP. Lessons drawn from the former will guide the state OGP in deepening the institutional arrangements for implementing the SAP, provide the right structures to ensure sustainability and maintain a strong focus on inclusion of Women, PWDs and other vulnerable groups.