OGP/FOI: Edo NOA Charge Stakeholders On Effective Strategies To Promote Transparency, Accountability

The Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Edo state directorate, Mrs Grace Eseka yesterday charged stakeholders to map out effective strategies towards the fight against corruption as well as the promotion of transparency and accountability in governance.

Mrs Eseka gave the charge in Benin city during a One-Day sensitization campaign to promote transparency and accountability in governance with the use of Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and Open Government Partnership (OGP) principles organised by the Agency.

Eseka stressed that there is need for citizens to be educated on the rationale behind the FOI Act, hence the campaign by NOA to raise awareness on the provisions and understanding of the Act passed into law in 2011.

"In addition, for a country to be a member of OGP, it must exhibit a demonstrated commitment to open government in four key areas: Fiscal Transparency, Access to Information, Asset Disclosure and Citizens Engagement", the Edo NOA Director said in her address

On his part, the Coordinator of Network on Good Governance (NGG), Peter Nwadishi attributed the inability to fix the deplorable state of infrastructure across the country to bad governance, adding there can not be good governance when transparency and accountability are lacking.

The NGG Coordinator called on governments to be open, responsive, and accountable to citizens for the successful implementation of the Act which according to him will lead to transparency in governance.

He however reminded participants of citizens engagement as a basic principle of democracy where government derives their authority and power, noting government is therefore under obligation to respond to the need of the citizens.

Also, Hon Florence Gbinigie asserted, FOI Act have given leverage to citizens to ask questions on governance.

Hon Gbinigie, a former Commissioner in the state called for women inclusion in government, adding governance would be difficult when every irrespective of gender are not carried along.

Present at the occasion were civil society groups, Non governmental Organizations (NGOs), Youth groups, FIDA, and others.

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