The Kano State Open Government Partnership (OGP) Secretariat has responded to recent claims by some civil society organizations (CSOs) about irregularities in the composition of the state’s OGP Steering Committee.
In a statement signed by Comrade Nura Iro Maaji, Government Co-chair of the Kano State OGP, the secretariat said the concerns were based on a misunderstanding of the recent inauguration event.
“The event was exclusively the inauguration of Kano State Government’s representatives on the committee. It was not the inauguration of the larger State Steering Committee, which will include both government and CSO representatives,” the statement read.
Comrade Maaji also noted that the CSO Co-Chair was formally invited and present at the meeting as a key witness and partner, “underscoring our commitment to multi-stakeholder collaboration from the outset.”
The statement highlighted Kano State Government’s commitment to joint planning with CSOs, a principle of the OGP.
“During the meeting, the Government Co-chair reiterated Kano State Government’s commitment to the OGP principle of co-creation. This ensures that government and CSOs jointly develop commitments that reflect citizens’ priorities,” the statement added.
On the nomination process, Comrade Maaji explained that, according to OGP international guidelines, the government nominates its representatives while CSOs elect theirs.
“This separation maintains independence and balance,” he said. He added that the government is aware of the current CSO Steering Committee, whose tenure will soon end, and looks forward to working with newly elected representatives once the process concludes.
Comrade Maaji concluded with a call for cooperation, urging all stakeholders to focus on constructive engagement.
“Kano State Government under Abba Kabir Yusuf remains committed to the Open Government Partnership as a platform for accountable governance. We view CSOs not as adversaries, but as indispensable partners in this journey,” he said.
The government appealed to stakeholders to “engage through official channels rather than public statements that may create unnecessary tension” and stressed that the inauguration of government representatives marks progress, not exclusion.
