Kano Strengthens Open Governance as Civil Society Elects OGP Steering Committee

Kano State has recorded a milestone in its open governance drive with the successful election of civil society representatives into the state’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee and thematic working groups.

The Civil Society Adviser at the OGP National Secretariat, Abuja, Mr. Jonathan Asake, said after monitoring the exercise that the election was transparent, peaceful and inclusive, reflecting the core principles of the global OGP initiative.

Asake said the National Secretariat reviewed concerns raised before the election and found that the state secretariat and election committee had put in place a deliberate and credible process that ensured broad participation by civil society organisations.

He commended the Kano State Government for its commitment to the OGP initiative through institutional support, funding, operational facilities and administrative autonomy for the state secretariat. According to him, the state’s political backing has positioned Kano as one of Nigeria’s leading OGP-performing states and a model for others implementing the framework.

He urged the state government to sustain the momentum, noting that the newly elected steering committee would focus on implementing Kano’s State Action Plan, which prioritises reforms in fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, climate action, service delivery and citizen participation. He also invited the state to participate in the next OGP Global Summit to showcase its governance reforms and attract development partnerships.

Also speaking, the Kano State Coordinator of the Open Government Partnership and Senior Special Assistant on Open Government and Accountability Policies, Mustapha Muhammad Abdullahi, said the election underscored the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and inclusive governance.

Abdullahi said the state government had already constituted its own component of the steering committee with commissioners, permanent secretaries and other senior officials, who would work alongside elected civil society representatives to drive reforms in access to information, access to justice, anti-corruption, service delivery and climate change.

He added that Kano’s State Action Plan, signed by Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf in December 2025, had already yielded institutional reforms, including the establishment of the Ministry of Public Procurement, while reforms in agriculture, water resources, education and healthcare were also being pursued to improve public service delivery.

According to Abdullahi, Kano has recorded significant progress under the current administration, rising from 11th to fourth position in national OGP performance rankings within a short period. He expressed optimism that more governance reforms and development outcomes would emerge through the partnership.

The state coordinator described the election as peaceful and credible, while noting that independent observers were better placed to assess the conduct of the exercise.