The League of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kano State has congratulated the Kano State Government on appointing Hon. Nura Iro Ma’aji Sumaila, the Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, as the new Government Co-Chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
In a statement, the League described the appointment as “a watershed moment and a strong, deliberate commitment that anchors the future of governance in Kano upon the principles of transparency and public participation.”
The CSOs noted that placing OGP leadership in the hands of a commissioner overseeing fiscal accountability signals the government’s intention to transform the partnership from a ceremonial platform into an operational instrument of systemic reform.
CSOs outline expectations for systemic reforms
The League called on Hon. Ma’aji to leverage the reconstitution of the OGP Steering Committee to launch “technology-driven reforms” aimed at making Kano a model of open governance.
Key recommendations include:
Fiscal transparency and open contracting: Immediate establishment of an Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)-compliant portal to publish all public contracts, tendering details, implementation status, and performance evaluations.
Beneficial Ownership Register: Creation of a state-level register requiring companies awarded public contracts to disclose their ultimate human owners to combat corruption and conflicts of interest.
Service delivery and monitoring: Deployment of e-tendering and e-monitoring platforms allowing citizens to track project progress via mobile technology.
The CSOs also urged the timely release of Citizens’ Budgets, Detailed Implementation Reports, and Auditor-General’s reports within four weeks of official publication to strengthen public accountability.
Integrity and expertise crucial for success
The League emphasized that the success of Kano’s OGP depends on appointing civil society representatives with technical skills, independence, and integrity.
“The Steering Committee must not become a destination for political patronage or compromised interests,” the statement warned.
It stressed that rigorous selection of qualified members is essential to ensure evidence-based dialogue and impactful reforms.
The CSOs expressed readiness to collaborate with Hon. Ma’aji, providing expertise in budget tracking, policy analysis, digital governance, and community engagement.
They stressed that the government must act quickly to launch the OCDS portal and champion fiscal openness, adding that the OGP’s legacy depends on measurable results, transparency, and accountable public service.
The statement was endorsed by 22 civil society organizations in Kano State, including Wuro Development Concerns (WDCN), Campaign for Democracy (CD), Youth and Environmental Development Association (YEDA), and others committed to promoting good governance and civic engagement.
