TheMail Newspaper Joins Policy Alert on USAID/Palladium Supported Open Government Project in Niger Delta

Imó Etim 

TheMail Newspaper has joined eight other organisations on the Open Government Partnership Project in the Niger Delta.

TheMail Newspaper together with seven organisations are cluster member organisations with PolicyAlert as an Anchor organisation.

PolicyAlert had secured partnership with Palladium and the United State Agency for International Development (USAID’s) Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE), to promote Open Government in Niger Delta under the project tagged Niger Delta Open Government Observatory (NOGO) project. 

The Executive Director of PolicyAlert, Mr Tijah Bolton-Akpan, while briefing Cluster members during the NOGO Project Inception Meeting on Tuesday October 18, 2022 in Uyo, noted that since Nigeria had signed on to Open Government Partnership ( OGP) in 2016, they saw it as an opportunity to drive for adoption of OGP at the sub-national level and keep the ground running at producing and building capacity of citizens to demand open government at the sub-national level especially in the Niger Delta. 

He also stated that the Inception meeting was a pointer to the fact that efforts invested by organizations were yielding positive results as such, all cluster members deserved commendation, and that partnership of all members was greatly appreciated and valued. 

Mr Bolton-Akpan also stressed that the 9 organizations involved are to push for adoption of the OGP at the state level and move for states already signed on the OGP to improve   ‘Co-creationʼ on how States actors can work hand in hand with citizens or Civil Society Organisations to ensure that there is proper implementation of fiscal governance in the Niger Delta. 

“The importance of the NOGO project is premised on the fiscal crisis in the Niger Delta region, which is currently being hit with the effect Covid-19 and reduced Oil price earnings. This is because when Oil prices steep, the implications are adverse for the government at the centre.

” However, those implications are even more deep and adverse for sub-national entities especially States in the Niger Delta that depend a lot on Oil revenue; the 13 percent derivations and so on. 

The Executive Director of PolicyAlert pointed out that the current fiscal trends are going to pose significant challenges for States in the region, most of which are already in the fiscal struggle for survival. 

He insisted that without financial discipline and an eye against corruption which the Open Government Partnership seeks to achieve, it is going to be very difficult for States to deliver essential social services and public infrastructure in the region. 

“One way to reverse this scenario is that States need to improve on fiscal transparency and open up decision making and information in priority sectors to the public, as it will reduce opportunities for corruption, improve public trust in government, minimize wastage and build demand, high pressure for efficient and service delivery to the people,”Bolton-Akpan said. 

Mr Mfon Gabriel, Programmes Officer for PolicyAlert highlighted that 24 States in Nigeria have so far signed on to the Open Government Partnership, but some states in the Niger Delta like; Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers were yet to do so. 

He stated that the scope of the project is to see a more transparent, accountable, and participatory government of the Niger Delta anchored on three broad strategies; Capacity building, Advocacy engagement and public awareness, with Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, and Imo as the target States. 

Other Organisations that are part of the Cluster organisations for the NOGO project include; Bayelsa-NGO-Forum (BANGOF), We The People (WTP), LITEAfrica, Citizens Centre-for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR), Social Action/SDIC, The Roothub, and the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria Secretariat. 

The 24 States in Nigeria that have signed on the OGP are;  Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo Jigawa and Kaduna. 

Others include; Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Zamfara and Abuja Municipal Area Council( AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory.