Oxfam Urges Adamawa, Taraba State Government To Adopt Open Government Partnership Initiatives

Oxfam urges Adamawa,Taraba state governments to adopt open government partnership initiatives.

From Umar Dankano, Yola.

The Adamawa and Taraba state governments have been urged to be more responsive and encourage citizens and civic groups-led reform initiatives and feedback on project execution.

Announcing the call through a jointly signed communique by participants of a 3-day workshop on open government partnership,OGP and Community development planning(CDP)held in Yola from Wednesday 6th to 8th November 2024.

Participants from Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna states were convened by Oxfam for promotion of state-level exchange and the sharing of practical experiences in implementing the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and Community Development Planning (CDP).

According to the communique, the goal was to strengthen governance through transparency, accountability, and meaningful citizen engagement calling on Taraba State government to adopt and adapt digital platforms for real-time project monitoring and information dissemination to increase transparency and enhance accountability towards building public trust in governance.

The attendees unanimously agreed to be interacting with both state and non-state actors for a clearer understanding on how government and citizens relate on issues around social protection and early warning systems, and to understand the practical methodology of the OGP operations with a focus on the co-creation approach to citizens engagements.

They also commended the Adamawa State government for raising the bar with the innovative, comprehensive and technology-driven Eyes and Ears hub enabling effective monitoring and evaluation as well as an effective citizens’ feedback mechanism appealing to the Governor of Taraba state to accelerate the signing of the reviewed State Action Plan (SAP 2024 – 2026) and inaugurate the State Steering Committee.

It was also resolved on the need to establish mechanisms for continuous knowledge-sharing and exchange visits among states to learn from each other’s experiences and challenges in implementing OGP and CDP/CDC initiatives noting that all forms of sector reforms going on in these states and how the post-PROSELL state (Taraba) can benefit from its structural processes are understood.

“We all on the civil society groups and actors to embrace constructive dialogue and evidence-based approaches in engaging with States’ governments.
Call on development partners to support the participating States to conduct political economy analysis (PEA) for more effective engagement, informed and proactive actions, and delivery of OGP commitments.

“There is a need to replicate the successful Open Government Partnership (OGP), Community Development Charter (CDC) and Community Development Planning (CDP) models demonstrated in states like Kaduna and Adamawa in Taraba State.

“While commending the Kaduna State government for sustaining the gains of OGP reforms and appeal for the strengthening of the Eyes and Ears projects and Community Development Charter (CDC),we call on communities to promote a culture of taking self-help initiatives for accelerated and sustainable community development to reduce over-dependence on government”
The Communique highlighted.

Daily Hint Correspondent reported that, the meeting had in attendance participants drawn from Adamawa State Planning Commissions, Taraba State ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Taraba State bureau for Local Government and tradition and Chieftaincy affairs, Kaduna State Planning & Budget Commission, and Kaduna State Ministry for Local Government Affairs, representatives from the National OGP Secretariat, Oxfam, civil society leaders, and various stakeholders including the media.