Kano State has reinforced its position as a national leader in transparent and inclusive governance following the successful election of civil society representatives into the state’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee and thematic working groups.
The exercise, monitored by officials of the OGP National Secretariat, was widely commended for its transparency, credibility and inclusiveness, underscoring Kano’s growing reputation as a model for open governance in Nigeria.
Speaking after monitoring the election, the Civil Society Adviser at the OGP National Secretariat, Jonathan Asake, described the process as free, peaceful and consistent with the principles of the global Open Government Partnership.
According to him, the National Secretariat engaged with the state OGP secretariat and the election committee ahead of the exercise and was satisfied that adequate measures had been put in place to ensure a credible outcome.
He said the successful conduct of the election reflected Kano State’s strong political commitment to transparency, accountability and citizen participation.
Asake further noted that Kano had distinguished itself among OGP member states by providing sustained institutional support, funding and operational independence to its OGP Secretariat, demonstrating the state’s determination to deepen democratic governance.
He stated that the state’s progress had positioned it as a reference point for other OGP states and invited Kano to participate in the next OGP Global Summit, where it would have the opportunity to showcase its governance reforms, attract development partners and strengthen investor confidence.
The Kano State Coordinator of the Open Government Partnership and Senior Special Assistant on Open Government and Accountability Policies, Mustapha Muhammad Abdullahi, said the election reflected Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and inclusive governance.
He explained that government officials, including commissioners and permanent secretaries, had already been appointed to serve alongside the elected civil society representatives under the OGP’s equal representation framework.
According to Abdullahi, the Steering Committee will spearhead reforms in critical sectors, including fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, access to information, citizen engagement, climate action and public service delivery.
He revealed that the implementation of Kano’s State Action Plan, signed by Governor Yusuf in December 2025, had already yielded measurable results, including the establishment of the Ministry of Public Procurement to strengthen transparency in government spending.
Abdullahi also highlighted the administration’s investments in agriculture, education, healthcare and water resources, noting that the reforms had significantly improved the state’s standing in the national OGP performance rankings, moving from 11th to fourth position within a short period.
He expressed confidence that the renewed partnership between government and civil society would accelerate reforms, improve service delivery and consolidate Kano State’s reputation as a benchmark for open, accountable and people-centred governance in Nigeria.
