Government of Bauchi initiates 2023–2025 Action plan for Open Government Partnership

Governor of Bauchi State Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed introduced the Open Government Partnership’s (OGP) State Action Plan 2023–2025 on Thursday.

He commended the steering committee’s co-chairs and members for their dedication and hard work in creating the first plan.

Governor Mohammed stated that the focus of the 2023–2025 OGP would be on the four commitment areas: open access to information, citizens’ involvement, budgetary transparency, and enhancing social protection system. Governor Mohammed was speaking at the inauguration of the plan, which was held in the Council Chambers of Government House, Bauchi.

Governor of Bauchi State Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed introduced the Open Government Partnership’s (OGP) State Action Plan 2023–2025 on Thursday.

He commended the steering committee’s co-chairs and members for their dedication and hard work in creating the first plan.

Governor Mohammed stated that the focus of the 2023–2025 OGP would be on the four commitment areas: open access to information, citizens’ involvement, budgetary transparency, and enhancing social protection system. Governor Mohammed was speaking at the inauguration of the plan, which was held in the Council Chambers of Government House, Bauchi.

The governor noted that the commitment areas have been broken down into activities and targets for implementation by the relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state, according to a release signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Mohammed, Mukhtar Gidado, and made available to DAULY POST in Bauchi.

In July 2022, the state reportedly became a member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) as part of its commitment to promoting accountability, transparency, and citizen participation in governance more actively.

The state government has made concerted attempts to integrate the OGP principles into all of its operational procedures prior to joining the OGP, he continued.

According to Mohammed, the state had shown a basic degree of commitment to the OGP under his leadership by making sure that budget processes were strengthened and supported to enable effective budget preparation, participation, and on-time release of budget papers.

“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the State-2-State Activity, which is funded by USAID, for its dedication and ongoing support throughout the process leading to the state’s membership in the OGP, as well as to all government officials, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), development partners, communities and religious leaders, and the global OGP for the support and collaboration in the processes of development of this first action plan.”

The governor thanked all who contributed to the plan’s creation and said that the administration of Bauchi State has developed an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Expansion Strategy after a highly collaborative and participatory process.

“I am happy to report that we have created a State Budget Operation Manual, Standard Operating Procedures for Public Engagement and for Publishing Budget Reports, and a Guide to the State’s Fiscal Responsibility Law to guide the processes, with assistance from USAID State2State Programme.

The governor was reported as saying, “In addition, we have worked to produce an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Expansion Strategy that was formulated through a highly consultative and participatory process involving a wide range of stakeholders.”

To ensure the inclusion of marginalised groups in governance, among other things, Governor Mohammed said the state government had since developed and approved a State Social Protection Policy through the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and the domestication of the National Gender Policy.

In his words, “The co-creation and co-implementation of the plan by the government and civil society actors will further enhance the relationship between the citizens and government and ensure the citizens’ belief and trust in the governance process.”