By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
Youths in Plateau State have been challenged to take advantage of the State’s Open Government Partnership to constructively engage government officials on accountability, responsiveness and inclusive governance.
The youths were equally tasked to see themselves as co-creators in governance and development processes.
Engr. David Wuyep of the Programme Management and Results Delivery Office, Office of the Governor, disclosed this while addressing about 250 youths at a town hall meeting, organised by the Jos Green Centre, held in Jos, the State Capital.
Wuyep a former Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy in the State, who charge the youths’ influencers, activists, entrepreneurs and others who participated in the meeting, said, “The OGP is a multilateral initiative that brings together governments at various levels and Civil Society Organizations from across the world to participate in governance that is open, transparent, accountable and serves the needs of the people.
Represented by Dr Geraldine Rimven, Wuyep explained that, “The OGP is hinged on four cardinal principles; accountability, transparency, inclusion and the use of technology and innovation.
“Nigeria signed up for the OGP and was admitted in 2016 while Plateau State submitted its application to join the OGP Local in October 2020 and was accepted as part of the 2020 intake being one of the only three states in Nigeria admitted into the OGP Local (which is for subnational governments) with Kaduna State and Abuja Municipal Council being the other two.
According to him, “Since then, the Plateau State Government has worked together with various CSOs in the state to develop Plateau State’s first OGP Action Plan which is underpinned by five thematic areas.”
He listed the areas to include; fiscal transparency (in open contracting and participatory budgeting); citizens’ engagement (establishing citizens’ dialogue mechanisms for improved accountability and transparency); extractives transparency, gender; peace and security.
“We are establishing the Plateau State Extractives Transparency Forum to ensure that mining is done in a sustainable manner and that we are properly harnessing our mining potentials.
“The Gender thematic area is to establish the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission to improve gender equity in Plateau State. In Peace and Security, the commitment is to establish an Independent Peace and Security Trust Fund to address peace and security issues in the state.
“This is a particular area where I think that young people can actively participate in the OGP. One of the activities for this commitment is the development and deployment of a citizens’ engagement app called click n tell where all Plateau citizens and residents, especially the youths can share their concerns, complaints, and comments on government projects, programmes policies and get feedback.
“The youths are a unique resource that can develop innovative solutions for economic growth and national development as they hold an enormous potential for change and positive actio”, he stressed.
The Deputy Country Director of Tearfund Nigeria, Joseph Aloo,in his remarks at the occasion titled: “Engaging Youth through Open Government Partnership (OGP),” said the State signing up to the OGP in 2020 reflects its commitment to promote “transparency, inclusiveness and citizens’ participation” in good governance.
Aloo maintained that, “One of the central lessons from the #ENDSARS riots of 2020 was the critical need to create the enabling space for conversations that supports inclusiveness, participation and
constructive engagement of Nigeria’s massive youth population.”
He expressed joy that “Jos Green Centre is pioneering the deployment of the OGP Platform to create the space for constructive engagements with youths and has also put in place a robust process for putting together an accessible on-line toolkit that equips youths to participate and promote accountable, responsive, and inclusive governance.
Earlier in his welcome address, Fwangmun Oscar Danladi, Team Lead, Jos Green Centre, said, “This project is a Townhall meeting that promotes youth understanding and participation in OGP constructively and to develop technical session that will bring young people to brainstorm with a view to be actively involved in governance in their respective states at all level”.
