The Federal Government has officially unveiled a comprehensive four-year roadmap for the Open Government Partnership (OGP), aimed at significantly advancing socio-economic growth in Nigeria.
The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this during the valedictory session of the National Steering Committee of Nigeria’s National Action Plan III (NAP III) and the inauguration of the committee tasked with developing the fourth National Action Plan (NAP IV) at his office in Abuja.
He stated that the OGP initiative focuses on transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement, with the goal of fostering a more inclusive government that actively involves the public in decision-making processes. He noted that the implementation of NAP III has just concluded and that NAP IV will soon commence, guided by an established roadmap.
Comrade Olawande urged the steering committee members to thoroughly review the NAP IV roadmap and provide valuable feedback to enhance the process. “Please draw extensively from your experience with NAP III as you contribute to the draft. Our goal is to create a new action plan that avoids the challenges faced during the implementation of NAP III,” he emphasized. He further stated:
“Our greatest success would be the uniform adoption of OGP principles across Nigeria. We have made significant progress in this regard, and I urge everyone to sustain this momentum.” He highlighted that 27 out of Nigeria’s 37 states, along with 5 local councils, have adopted the OGP, demonstrating substantial progress. Additionally, he acknowledged advancements in beneficial ownership reforms over the past few years.
The Minister also commended the President for his commitment to transparency in governance, citing the cessation of payments for the petrol subsidy—previously riddled with corruption—as a clear example
. He expressed appreciation for the Secretariat’s dedication to implementing NAP III, despite numerous challenges. Dr. Gloria Ahmed, the National Coordinator of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Nigeria and Director of Special Duties at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, explained that the National Steering Committee (NSC) has adopted a four-year plan instead of the previous two-year cycle. She stated that this new approach includes a mid-term review to reassess priorities in case of shifts in government focus or other significant developments.
She also underscored the remarkable potential of the OGP, where government, civil society, and the private sector collaborate to strengthen governance. “The roadmap will officially commence in March with a stakeholder retreat. During this meeting, participants will assess past performance and review the previous National Action Plan,” she added.
The Open Government Partnership is a global platform established in 2011 to make the governance process open, transparenct, accountable and participatory. Nigeria signed up in 2016 as the 70th member to deepen reforms in public financial management, citizens access to information and participation. Currently, 77 countries around the world are members of this global partnership.
Omolara EsanDirector, Information & Public RelationsFederal Ministry of Youth Development
