We signed OGP Charter to check corruption through effective management of resources, Governor Ganduje explains
By Tinuke Ogunpolu
The Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has given an insight into why his government committed itself to partnering with Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiative.
He said it was the quest for good and effective management of state resources that led to the step so taken.
Speaking further, the governor said when resources are well managed, corrupt practices are checked, unnecessary spendings are walled out, societal welfare is protected and promoted and good governance is assured.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kano State, Abba Anwar, Governor Ganduje made the remarks recently at the Council Chamber, Government House, Kano, when the Nigerian Institute of Management Chattered, Kano Chapter, paid him a courtesy visit amidst the State Executive Council weekly meeting.
“We have joined the Charter of Open Government Partnership (OGP) because we believe to have good management of our resources and and all government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). It will also go a long way towards curtailing corrupt practices,” he said.
Adding that, “With our vibrant anti-graft agency, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, coupled with the vibrant and capable leadership of the agency, which is saddled with the responsibility of implementing the just signed OGP Executive Order, good management has come to stay.”
He further explained that, the state Due Process Bureau was also established with the view to making sure that, “…even MDAs spendings follow due process, as always being promoted by our able President, Muhammadu Buhari. Ours is to bequeath good management system as our legacy.”
By way of sustaining the culture of good management, according to Ganduje, the state government, attaches much and significant emphasis to the body responsible for the training of local government staff in the state.
“I am therefore directing the state Head of Service to liaise with you, so as to discuss how our workers can benefit from the kind of your trainings, as a chattered and highly professional body that you are leading to come to us,” he added.
It could be recalled that, few weeks back the governor had signed the OGP Executive Order and assigned the responsibility of the document implementation to the state anti-graft body.
It took series of workshops, seminars and visits to relevant places, in collaboration with some selected civil societies, by the Kano State Steering Committee under the co-chairmanship of the Executive Chairman of the state anti-graft bady, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado and Hajiya Halima Ben-Umar, before the validation of the state Action Plan.
Few days after that, with the signing of the Executive Order, governor Ganduje inaugurated the committee and launched the already gazetted Executive Order, at a well attended gathering at Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.
Earlier in his speech during the courtesy visit, the state chairman of the Institute, Dr Abubakar S. Garba, disclosed that the Institute is the only body certifying managers from both public and private sectors in the country, after being chattered in 2003.
He said, “We now have 700 members in the. And we are pleading with the state government to include more civil servants in our training programmes. As this will enhance the good governance posture of the administration.”
“Your Excellency we are here to announce to you of our Annual Conference in Kano. The last time we had similar Conference was in 2007. We are pleased with the good management of resources in the state. That’s why we made it possible to come back to Kano and hold the Conference, after many years back,” he concludes.