From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Jigawa State Open Government Partnership (OGP) Non-State Actors commends the bold and progressive step taken by the Jigawa State Government in formally including deliberation and evidence-based civil society engagement as a key requirement in the performance bond signed by all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The commendation was contained in a statement signed by OGP Co-Chair Non state actors Comrade Isah Mustapha and made it available to news men.
The statement described the development as landmark decision underscores the administration’s strong commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.
“By institutionalizing civil society engagement, the government is ensuring that policies, plans, and projects are not only people-centered but also inclusive reflecting the voices, priorities, and evidence contributed by civil society organizations (CSOs).
“This development aligns with the Open Government Partnership (OGP) principles and global best practices in participatory governance.
“Representatives of the CSO community in Jigawa have commended the State Government for this milestone, noting that it presents a unique opportunity for CSOs to become more organized, focused, and constructive in their engagement with government and citizens”, the statement said.
The statement then, encouraged CSOs to Conduct self-assessments to identify their areas of comparative advantage and sectoral strengths as well as focus on specific sectors rather than dispersing efforts too widely and lastly engage in evidence-based advocacy that promotes effective policy implementation and improved service delivery.
The OGP Secretariat will facilitate the creation of strategic partnerships and collaborations between MDAs and civil society to ensure that this process is effective and sustained.
“This collaboration will not compromise the neutrality or independence of CSOs. Instead, it will foster mutual trust, constructive dialogue, and co-creation of solutions that will directly benefit the citizens of Jigawa State”, the statement said.
Then it maintained , on behalf of CSO community deeply appreciates the foresight of the present administration for institutionalizing this inclusive approach to governance.
It concluded that, thi step is expected to deepen democratic accountability, strengthen public trust, and accelerate sustainable development outcomes across Jigawa State.
