Obaseki bags open governance award

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has bagged Open Government Champions Award.
The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) decorated him with the Open Government Champions Award, for implementing policy actions towards promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
At the award ceremony held in Benin City, on Thursday, Executive Director, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, said the award was presented to the governor for advancing principles of Open Government Partnership (OGP).
Ugolor, said that Governor Obaseki got the Gold Category of the award for being a frontline Open Government Advocate in Nigeria, adding that by signing the OGP, members commit themselves to certain principles in governance, which include fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, access to information, citizen engagement, among others.
“We are rolling out the drums today to celebrate the OGP Champions who by their disposition are making the state a torchbearer of OGP in the Niger Delta/South-South states,” he noted.
In his remarks, Governor Obaseki, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Isaac Ehiozuwa, said before signing up to the OGP platform, his administration adopted open governance by putting in place laws and policies that allow for transparency.
According to him, “The present administration showed open governance in job creation and in appointment of political office holders.
“To demonstrate its open government policy, the state government as at March 1, this year, published its financial record,” he said.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Taiwo Akerele and Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the State, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, were also presented with awards.