Adebayo Adenrele
…moves to strengthen public participation in govt at LG level
The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji on Monday inaugurated the steering committee on Open Government Partnership (OGP) with a call on all local governments in the state to embrace the scheme in the drive to strengthen public participation, transparency, accountability, and effective citizens’ engagement in the affairs of government.
Inaugurating the committee at the Conference Hall, Governor’s office, Oyebanji assured that his administration would replicate the scheme in the local government areas to prioritize inclusion of the needs and aspirations of the people in their governance adding that the OGP initiative would increase collaboration between government and other stakeholders to improve the standard of living of the people in the state.
According to him, “I will try my best to ensure all the local governments key into this. I believe that if we are transparent and accountable, the society will get better”. The Governor asserted.
In his keynote address, the Director-General, Office of Development Partnerships, Ekiti State, Mr Oyeleye Abiodun, stated that OGP is a new multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.
Oyeleye used the opportunity to thank Governor Oyebanji for his unrivaled support for the scheme in the state, stressing that it is a global effort to make governments better as citizens want more transparent, effective, and accountable government with institutions that empower citizens and responsive to their yearnings.
In their separate remarks, the co-chairmen, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Niyi Adebayo, and Chairman, Coalition of Ekiti Civil Society Organizations (COECSO), Prof. Oluwadare Christopher commended Governor Oyebanji for his various giant strides towards instituting and promoting good governance and fiscal discipline in the public service and in the management of resources of the state through open and transparent procurement process, budget consultative meetings with stakeholders and period town hall meetings.
The steering committee which is to be coordinated by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, and co-chaired by Prof. Oluwadare Christopher has other members, Director General, Development Partnerships; Special Adviser, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery; PS Ministry of Finance; PS Ministry of Budget; Accountant General, and Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities among others.