A Shared Vision for an Accountable Nigeria: Deepening Commitments with the Open Government Partnership

On Monday, July 27th, 2025, the Nigeria Youth SDGs Network had the privilege of joining other members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) at a high-level engagement in Abuja.  The event marked a courtesy visit to Nigeria by the OGP’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Aidan Eyakuze, alongside the incoming OGP Co-Chair, Mrs. Stephanie Muchai. The primary purpose of this engagement was to foster a crucial dialogue between the OGP leadership, civil society organizations (CSOs), key government officials, and, ultimately, the Presidency. The core objective was to reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to building a more accountable, inclusive, and transparent system of governance.

The session began with introductory remarks from the various CSOs present, each representative prepared to articulate urgent governance challenges in Nigeria. The collective hope was that these critical issues would be escalated to the attention of the President, leading to meaningful action. The discussions that followed brought to light several deep-rooted challenges that are hindering Nigeria’s progress.

A central concern was the persistent lack of government accountability. CSOs expressed alarm over the weak oversight and lack of enforcement that often lead to the abandonment of government projects by contractors without any consequences. Stakeholders collectively called for the establishment of clear frameworks to hold these contractors accountable and ensure that public resources are used effectively for the benefit of citizens.

Another significant issue was the government’s frequent non-compliance with Supreme Court judgments. This collective outcry highlighted a problem that fundamentally undermines the rule of law and diminishes judicial authority. The failure to respect and implement these legal decisions erodes citizens’ confidence in the governance system and the justice it is meant to provide.

Furthermore, participants pointed to the weak autonomy of local government administrations. The lack of independence at this tier of governance severely hinders effective service delivery at the grassroots level, where it is needed most. Strengthening local government is essential to ensuring that the benefits of democracy are felt directly by citizens, particularly those in marginalized communities.

Finally, a pressing challenge in climate governance was raised. Concern was voiced over the inactivity of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), which is chaired by the President. The council has not convened since its establishment in 2021, and this inactivity weakens Nigeria’s capacity to implement the Climate Change Act of 2021 and effectively coordinate its response to the global climate crisis.

Following the impassioned presentations from the CSOs, OGP CEO Mr. Ednan Eyakuze acknowledged their contributions and affirmed that the OGP’s mission was fully aligned with their concerns. He skillfully distilled the diverse issues raised into three core pillars that would guide the OGP’s advocacy efforts with the Nigerian government.

The first pillar is:

Accountability. Mr. Ednan emphasized that citizens deserve a government that is answerable and responsible. He stressed the urgent need for stronger mechanisms to ensure the completion of government projects, uphold judicial rulings, and promote institutional transparency.

The second pillar is:

Inclusion. The CEO highlighted that the involvement of youth and marginalized groups is key to building a more resilient and equitable society. He called for deliberate efforts to amplify the voices of underrepresented groups in policy-making spaces to ensure their perspectives are heard and valued.

The third pillar is:

Transparency. Mr. Ednan underscored transparency as the fundamental basis for public trust. He asserted that citizens must have unrestricted access to vital information about government revenues, budgets, borrowing, and how resources are managed. This openness, he noted, is essential for public oversight and holding the government accountable to the people. Mr. Ednan assured the participants that these three pillars would form the basis of the OGP’s dialogue with the Presidency and relevant ministries.

Adding to the strategic direction, the incoming OGP Co-Chair, Mrs. Stephanie Muchai, offered invaluable guidance to the CSOs in attendance. She advised that to achieve optimal impact, CSOs should consolidate all their concerns into a single, concise one-page advocacy document. This, she explained, would allow the OGP leadership to present a unified message to the government, making it easier to follow up and drive concrete action. Mrs. Muchai also recommended that issues be strategically framed to align with political incentives. This approach, she explained, demonstrates the relevance of the issues to both public interest and potential political gains, a strategy that often increases responsiveness from political leaders.

The engagement was a powerful moment of unity and resolve among Nigeria’s civil society actors. It demonstrated that a collective and strategic voice can indeed influence high-level policy conversations. This meeting reaffirmed the vital importance of partnerships between government, civil society, and global platforms like the OGP in shaping a more transparent and accountable Nigeria.

The Nigeria Youth SDGs Network remains committed to supporting this shared vision by collaborating with other CSOs to draft a unified advocacy brief and continuing to push for strong accountability frameworks and inclusive policies.