We have gone into e-procurement model in Kaduna state — Commissioner
By: Femi Mustapha
Kaduna State Commissioner of Planning and Budget Commission Umma Aboki has said the state has gone Into the e-procurement model whereby contracts are published for the public to see online
She asserted this at the Ihifix Digital Summit for Development 2022, organised by the Ihifix Innovation Foundation, with support from Arewa Research and Development Project, Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, CALPED, Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn (PERL) Citizens Co-chair – Kaduna OGP commitment on Citizens’ Engagement held in Kaduna yesterday.
According to her Kaduna has been the first subnational to sign the Open Government Partnership (OGP) decided to take the steps to ensure Citizen engagement, saying the Eyes and Ears project is also there where citizens can hold the government accountable for what the state is doing.
” We have strengthened the social protection system in Kaduna state to ensure that our social registers are ready for anyone coming in with an intervention in the state to improve the poverty indices and service delivery in education and health services.
“There are a WhatsApp group where Eyes and Ear volunteers in the 23 local governments can report on projects within their communities, to improve the monitoring process;”
Aboki commended the staff and Management of Ihifix for organising the summit, noting that the unveiling of their App is a welcome development in Kaduna and another step by citizens to call for accountability and transparency from the government.
In his remarks the Point of Contact (POC) OGP in the Planning and Budget Commission, Jeremaiah Tera said the state commenced the implementation of the Open Governance Partnership, OGP, of the federal government aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability and citizen participation in governance in 2017.
He stressed that the state subscribed to the OGP to principally improve fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, access to information and citizens engagement and empowerment.
According to him, the step will improve the state’s ability to attract foreign investment and enhance access to additional development funds.
Tera disclosed that the state subscribed to seven of the 14 commitment areas for implementation.
He listed them to include ensuring citizen participation in budget circle, open contracting, adopt a common reporting standard, promote ease of doing business and improve compliance with Freedom of Information Act.
Others are to develop a permanent dialogue mechanism on transparency, accountability, and good governance between citizens and government and adopt technology-based citizens’ feedback on government project and programmes.
The lead of Ihifix Emmanuel Odeh Adikpe said Digital Summit for Development 2022 with theme “Leveraging Digital Technologies for Sustaining Gains Of The Open Government Partnership (OGP) will be looking at practical ways governments at all levels and citizens can co-deliver concrete participatory governance reforms and accelerate the delivery of quality public services leveraging digital technologies.
These are reforms, according to him, that seek to make governments more transparent, participatory, inclusive, accountable and responsive.
Adikpe added that Summit organised by the Ihifix Innovation Foundation, with support from Arewa Research and Development Project Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, CALPED, Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn (PERL)
There is no doubt that an open and more responsive government working collaboratively with active citizens leveraging digital technology has better prospects to deliver sustainable and people-centred development results.
“The advent of accessible digital technology has led governments’ and development organizations to begin seeking new ways of leveraging digital platforms and tools.
“This is towards increasing citizens’ participation, improving the quality of service delivery and enabling better development outcomes.
“The 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes that the spread of digital technology has great potential to accelerate human progress, bridge the digital divide and develop knowledge-driven societies. ” he said.
