The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) Abubakar Malami has assured that that Nigerian government will direct Ministries, Department and Agencies, MDAs, to set up an Open Government Partnership Unit (OGP) to enhance participatory governance.

He stated this on Tuesday at the 4th National Steering Committee Meeting of Open Government Partnership, OGP in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, adding that the unit will fall under the Department of Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement as part of Federal Government’s efforts to implement the National Action Plans of the country.

Mr. Malami was represented by the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed at the event.

“The collaborative platform of the OGP will offer opportunities of new approaches to ensure citizen’s engagement in governance and this is because its Secretariat would be directed to work with the Head of Service to ensure that a Service-Wide Circular is issued with a view to implementing the directives,” Malami quipped.

Speaking further, he commended the Kaduna State Government, having ensured that the citizens actively participated in decision making through the use of the ‘Eyes and Ears’ electronic platform.

The incoming Co-chair, and the Director, Media Rights Agenda, Edaete Ojo, earlier in his welcoming remarks, said that “we have approved the expansion of OGP logo.

This is one of the things we have to celebrate.”

According to him, “We have been on the same page with the National Steering committee and this has been sustainable up till date. We are playing our roles according to the framework provided by the agenda and direction we think we should take.

“We are doing things clearly in recognition of the fact that Nigeria has a lot to contribute to the global family given its size and influence internationally but also as a result of the innovations that are already evident in our participation within the OGP.”

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, in his brief remarks, stated that the Ministry is committed to collaborating with the steering committee to sustain its agenda, adding that "this is why we are internalising the policy throughout the spectrums of government.