Agba Backs Implementation of OGP Commitments In Nigeria, Says It Has Potentials to Create Jobs, Reduce Poverty.

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Clement Agba
ABUJA (Min of Budget and National Planning Report) – The Minister of State, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, has pledged his support towards the implementation of  Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Nigeria.

He made this commitment during a courtesy visit of the OGP Global Delegation to Nigeria, in Abuja, recently.

The Minister who doubles as the State Actor’s Co-Chair of Nigeria’s Multi Stakeholders Forum on Open Government Partnership (OGP), stated that,the Government of Nigeria is aware of the need for high-level political support for the successful implementation of the OGP in Nigeria; he therefore implored Members, Government Institutions, and Non- State Actors, to implement their OGP commitments, saying it has the potential to create jobs and reduce poverty.

According to him, government is determined to provide an enviable economic growth path, like the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), a medium-term plan with which Nigeria exited recession in the second quarter of 2017, which is constructed on solid policies, strategies and reform programmes, that accommodate the participation of non- state actors and development partners, both in design and implementation.

Clem Agba further revealed that his team was working towards the actualization of the national vision of being among the top economies in the world, which is evident in Nigeria’s OGP’s second National Plan (NAP2), saying the National Monitoring and Evaluation Department domiciled in his Ministry, is being reinforced to carry out its mandate of monitoring and evaluating in both existing and new government policies, projects, and programmes.

Mr. Sanjay Pradhan, OGP Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who spoke on behalf of the Delegation at the meeting, said that the choice of their visit to Nigeria was informed because they considered Nigeria as priority nation amongst the 79 other OGP countries, and also stated that OGP can be a game-changer for Nigeria, both domestically and internationally.

He listed the objectives of OGP to include; empowering citizens, promoting transparency, fighting corruption and harnessing new technologies to strengthen governance.

Vivian Amadi
For: Director Press MBNP

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