Policy Alert charges Governors-elect on Open Government Policy

…Says it benefits citizenry

Dennis Udo-Udoma, Uyo

Governors-elect in the South-South Zone have been warned against closed administrative policy against “Open Government Policy” used by predecessors so as to make business of governance accessible and responsive.

Participants at the “Learning Event Series”, an interaction organized by Policy Alert, a Civil Society Organization gave the charge during the event in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Saturday.

The participants said, an open government is more accessible, responsive and accountable to the people.

They called on the incoming governors to sign on to the “Open Government Policy” (OGP), where the current administration especially, Akwa Ibom has not done so.

According to them, the Governors-Elect should sign on and strengthen the implementation of OGP in cases where the states have already signed on.

“The governments of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Imo and Rivers States should ensure full adoption and implementation of OGP; it is open and government will be more accessible, responsive and more accountable to citizens”.

The Project Lead of the NGO, Mr. Koko Udoh who spoke on, “OGP at the Sub-national level” queried; Can gender equality and technology make a difference?

Udoh noted that, openness and accountability in government would be entrenched if gender equality, tech-tools and social inclusion are employed in governance process.

The statement highlighted, “the learning series is an activity of the Niger Delta Open Government Observatory (NOGO), which is supported by USAID/Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) and implemented by Palladium. Through the NOGO Cluster, a consortium of nine (9) organizations is working to influence the adoption and effective implementation of OGP by citizens and government of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Imo and Rivers States. “