Official Report from the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Peer Learning Session
Executive Summary: CenterLSD in collaboration with DEAN Initiative organized a Peer Learning Session designed to promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building, among the six FCT Area Councils – Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali, in order to strengthen Open Government Practices in Councils. The session was held on the 20th and 21st December, 2024 at Golden Dabis hotel, Keffi, Nasarawa with the following objectives: advance the adoption and implementation of Open Government Partnership (OGP) principles through:
- Experiences and best practices from OGP-signed Area Councils
- Raising awareness and fostering commitment among unsigned councils to join OGP-Local.
- Enhancing participants’ capacities in transparency, accountability, and public participation.
- Equipping Directors of Administration with practical tools to drive OGP-aligned reforms.
- Establishing actionable plans and effective reporting mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of OGP practices.
The session had participants including Councils’ Directors of Administration, Secreteries, Treasurers, Chief of Staffs, Heads of Information, Heads of Personel Management, Director of PHCs, Director of Budget, and OGP Desk officers across the six (6) Area Councils. Citizens representatives from the six Area Councils, Civil Society Advisor, and M&E Advisor from the OGP National Secretariat were represented at the event. An expert on budget at the state and local government levels was invited from Kaduna to share knowledge on how the Community Development Committee worked in the state.
The participants at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Peer Learning Session, deliberated extensively on the strategies to deepen OGP practices and commitments in the various Councils and resolved as follows:
Resolutions and Recommendations
- Promoting OGP as a Democratic Tool
OGP shall be promoted as a key driver of democratic governance, enabling councils to amplify their achievements, strengthen citizen trust, and enhance global recognition of their efforts. With the aim of “blowing our trumpets,” we shall adopt OGP as a democratic tool to inspire confidence in the transformative potential of open governance practices.
- Institutionalizing OGP at the Local Level
To ensure sustainability, all councils are encouraged to institutionalize OGP principles within their operational structures. This includes embedding OGP commitments into governance frameworks, policies, and practices to guarantee their continuity and effectiveness.
- Submission of Letters of Intent by Area Councils
The three area councils yet to join the OGP initiative must immediately commence the process of submitting their Letters of Intent. These councils are expected to complete their submissions no later than 31st January 2025, positioning themselves to leverage the current possible support and resources available for the development of their Action Plan.
- Building a Network of OGP Reformers
Every government official present at this session shall take responsibility and become a dedicated OGP reformer within their respective councils. These reformers will act as catalysts, facilitating the acceptance, implementation, and monitoring of OGP commitments within the political heads and civil servents to align the council activities with OGP practices.
- Strengthening Citizen and Civil Society Engagement
Councils are strongly encouraged to adopt an inclusive approach by intentionally involving citizen representatives and civil society organizations (CSOs) in all OGP-related activities and commitments. Citizens and CSOs, in turn, are urged to actively and persistently engage councils, providing constructive input and advocacy to enhance the impact of OGP initiatives.
Conclusion
This communiqué underscores our collective commitment to advancing the principles of open government at the grassroots level. By institutionalizing OGP practices, fostering inclusive participation, and building a network of intentional reformers, we aim to create a governance system that is transparent, accountable, and truly reflective of the needs and aspirations of the people. These resolutions represent a shared vision for transforming local governance through collaboration, innovation, and sustained action.
Adopted this 21st day of December 2024.
Signed:
FCT Area Councils Directors of Administration
FCT Area Councils Citizens Representatives