From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Kaduna State achieved a significant milestone in its governance reform efforts on Monday by launching a two-day orientation workshop focused on domestication of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) across all 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to improve Primary Healthcare (PHC) services.
According to the official report of Day One, the event was organized by the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission and the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, in partnership with EngenderHealth and the OGP National Secretariat.
Local Government Chairmen, senior government officials, civil society organizations, development partners, and key stakeholders gathered to promote transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and improved health outcomes through open governance.
Kaduna State is pioneering as the first subnational government globally to initiate the domestication of the OGP framework in all 23 LGAs, with a focus on enhancing PHC service delivery, marking a historic achievement.
The session was officially opened by Her Excellency, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, who delivered the keynote address on behalf of Governor Senator Uba Sani, CON. In her remarks,
She reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to inclusive development and emphasized that revitalizing PHC is a key part of the Rural Transformation Agenda.
She highlighted that sustainable development depends on trust, transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement—principles at the core of OGP—and urged Local Government Chairmen to adopt OGP as a governance approach to improve service delivery and build citizens’ confidence in government institutions.
The event received strong support from government agencies and development partners. Dr. Anthony Shamang, speaking on behalf of the Health Partners Reference Group (HPRG), stressed the role of open governance in making health services more accessible, responsive, and accountable, reaffirming the readiness of development partners to support Local Government Chairmen throughout the implementation process.
Dr. Ekenem Isichei, Deputy Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Communication at the Gates Foundation, praised Kaduna State for translating OGP principles into practical actions to strengthen PHC.
He emphasized the importance of transparent budgeting, efficient resource use, and public accountability, reaffirming the Foundation’s dedication to supporting the state’s reform efforts.
Hon. Mukhtar Ahmed, the Honorable Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Monrovia, emphasized the need to align state-level planning with local government implementation through a decentralized, participatory approach. He announced that the Planning and Budget Commission and the State OGP Secretariat will provide ongoing technical support to establish Local Government OGP Steering Committees and co-develop Local Government Action Plans.
Similarly, Dr. Mahmud Lawal, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, on behalf of the Honorable Commissioner, acknowledged the state’s investments in strengthening the health sector and expressed confidence in Local Government Councils’ readiness to advance the OGP process.
On behalf of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Dauda Madaki is committed to ensuring the successful domestication and implementation of OGP at the grassroots level.
Participants engaged in technical sessions to deepen their understanding of open governance and its relevance to PHC. Mr. Uchenna Arisukwu, Civil Society Adviser at the OGP National Secretariat, provided an overview of OGP in Nigeria and outlined opportunities for LGAs. Mallam Bashir Ladan, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission, shared insights on “Open Governance for Better Health Outcomes,” highlighting evidence-based socioeconomic data across the LGAs.
Hajiya Hadiza Umar, State Civil Society Adviser, outlined the workshop’s objectives, emphasizing the importance of securing political support, building institutional capacity, establishing Local Government OGP Steering Committees, and developing health-focused Local Government Action Plans.
Day One saw several key outcomes, according to the official report. These include strong political commitment from Kaduna State’s government, Local Government Chairmen, and stakeholders; Kaduna’s leadership in governance reforms as the first subnational globally to start OGP domestication in all LGAs; broad stakeholder participation; increased awareness and capacity building on OGP principles and co-creation; a commitment from LGAs to establish inclusive OGP Steering Committees; an agreement that all LGAs will prepare and submit health-focused Local Government Action Plans to the State OGP Secretariat by July 2026; and renewed support from development partners for technical assistance and reform implementation.
The report concluded that the successful start of the workshop marks another milestone in Kaduna State’s efforts to deepen transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.
The high participation level, strong political commitment, active engagement of development partners, and shared resolve by Local Government Chairmen demonstrate the stakeholders’ readiness to institutionalize open governance and enhance PHC services across all 23 LGAs.
