Access to information for citizens engagement (NGKD0008)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Action plan – Kaduna State, Nigeria, 2024 – 2025
Inception Report: Not available
Commitment Start: Feb 2024
Commitment End: Dec 2025
Institutions involved:
- Planning and Budget Commission
- Transparency and Accountability in Totality Initiatives - FollowTaxes
- Ministry of Justice
- Kaduna State House of Assembly
- Kaduna State House of Assembly
- Kaduna State House of Assembly
- Office of the Governor (Government House)
- Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
- Kaduna State Fiscal Responsibility Commission
- Office of the Governor (Government House)
- Office of the Governor (Government House)
- Office of the Governor (Government House)
- Office of the Governor (Government House)
- Kad -LG CDC Champion Zuntu Ward Kubau LG, Kaduna State
- Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism KAD-LGAM/CIVIC SPACE LINK-UP
- Newsweb Express
- Africa Media Development Foundation
- Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism
- Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism
- Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism
- Zamani Foundation
- Open Gov Youth Innovation Hub
- Hope for Communities and Children (H4CC)
- Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism -LGAM Chikun LGA
- Nok Stars Development Initiative
- Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism
- Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment & Development- CALPED
- The Kukah Centre for Faith and Leadership
- Green Climate Africa
- Open Gov Youth Innovation Hub
- Africa Media Development Foundation
- Colab Innovation Campus
- Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism
- Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism
- Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism
- Open Governance Space
- Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM)
- Hope for community and children initiative
- Community of Practice
- Young Men Christian Association (YMCA)
- Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women
- Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women
- Nature’s Heart Foundation
- Bridge That Gap Initiative.
- FollowTaxes
Primary Policy Area:
Primary Sector:
OGP Value:
- Civic Participation
- Technology and Innovation for Transparency and Accountability
Description
Commitment ID
NGKD0008
Commitment Title
Access to information for citizens engagement
Problem
There is insufficient citizens’ engagement, participation, and feedback in the budget implementation due to the absence of a legal framework through the Freedom of Information Law in the State. Despite having the Eyes and Ears citizen engagement feedback tools, the upgrade and integration with other systems have reduced citizens' access to updated information. This results in citizens not having adequate information and thus, not being able to relate to projects in the budgets which ultimately weakens accountability.
Status quo
- Insufficient citizens’ engagement.
- Absence of a legal framework.
- No feedback mechanism on the citizens’ feedback App.
- Citizens still have a weak capacity to navigate the citizens’ feedback App.
- Poor network coverage in some communities.
Action
This commitment seeks to strengthen citizen engagement systems in Kaduna State beyond having a commitment in the State Action Plan. The Commitment seeks to further improve government responsiveness and engagement of the citizens in public service delivery by ensuring that the Freedom of Information Law is domesticated in the State. In the first action plan, the state created feedback tools for receiving citizens’ feedback and expanded the tools to include WhatsApp, Gani Ya kori Ji Hausa Radio program, Facebook, and writing to the Commissioner Planning and Budget Commission directly. The desire is to strengthen available online platforms to provide citizens with access to relevant information about government activities and policies as well as improve the systems in general to address tech infrastructure gaps. This platform will also provide an avenue for citizens to provide feedback and make suggestions without restrictions.
How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?
Given the absence of a Freedom of Information law in the State, this commitment will support the institutionalization of access to information which will provide an opportunity for ordinary citizens to engage and improve government responsiveness leveraging on the use of technology.
What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?
Nurturing citizens engagement in a transparent and accountable citizens-oriented manner for rural transformation.
Primary Policy Area
Civic Space, Digital Governance
Primary Sector
Cross-sectoral, Public Services (general)
What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?
| Civic Participation | Citizen Engagement commitment provides platforms and opportunities for citizens to participate in shaping decisions that concern them. The citizen feedback tools that exist in the state align with civic participation. The goal is to ensure that citizens are carried along in decision-making based on the Nurturing Citizens Engagement pillar of the SUSTAIN Agenda. |
| Technology and Innovation for Transparency and Accountability | Technology has been identified as an enabler in driving Open Governance. The use of innovative technology is at the heart of the Citizens Engagement process in Kaduna State. Today, citizens can call the Toll-free line, engage the Citizens feedback app, provide feedback via WhatsApp, and Facebook, and engage on the live Hausa Gani Ya Kori Ji Radio programs with technology playing a vital role. The Citizens' engagement platforms also create opportunities for information sharing for effective public participation. |