FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR SYNERGY WITH MDA’s IN THE OPEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES
The Federal Government of Nigeria has called for synergy in the MDA’s who are part of the c Open Government Partnership Initiatives (OGP) to be more accountable in their drive towards improvement in service delivery process in Nigeria.
This call was made when the National Coordinator/CEO SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli paid an advocacy visit to the Director General of National Agricultural Seed Council to roll out the next phase of the OGP initiatives in his office within the week.
The National Coordinator said that the OGP presents a platform for co-creation, partnership and collaboration between governments (State Actors), Civil Society Organizations and also the Private Sector (Non State Actors) in achieving its’ developmental process
However she also stressed that, the fundamental objective of Mr President signing into the OGP commitments is to ensure full implementation of the process to fight corruption and ensure accountability, transparency, as well as improved service delivery to Nigerians.
According to her, this falls squarely within the SERVICOM mandate, consequently making the improved service delivery thematic area of commitment 15 and 16 to be included in NAP II with SERVICOM as the lead agency with an implementation period of 2 years, which is 2019 to 2022 respectively
Akajemeli further pointed out some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that would showcase the pilot phase of the OGP initiatives for the improved Service Delivery in the 7th thematic area which the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) where included.
Nevertheless, she also called for the role of SERVICOM at the Sub-National (State and Local Government) Level and to enact SERVICOM Bill and also develop SERVICOM Policy In those areas which are Nasarawa, Kastina, Bauchi, Ekiti, Imo, and Delta State.
She added that the way forward of the OGP to accomplish full commitment is a total buy-in by key public sector bureaucrats, high synergy with development Agencies and partners and implementation of the revised Standards in Service Charter by MDAs.
In her words, ‘’ SERVICOM as a cadre in MDAs will positively give MSUs staff the Zeal to embrace and drive the initiative effectively, and also the enactment of legislative instrument to back the improved Service Delivery Initiative (ISDI), as well as massive citizens/customers awareness campaign to demand for quality service delivery’’ she added.
While speaking on the Improved Service Delivery-Commitment 15 and 16 and also the role of MDAs as Pilots, the National Coordinator pointed out some strategies in which the (Federal Department of Agriculture extension services department) and the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) would be working as critical partners which includes Advocacy for total commitment and buy-in by Permanent-Secretaries, Department Heads and Director-General of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and key partners/stakeholders on implementation of improved Service delivery commitment through the pilot projects
The coordinator called on, MDAs/CEOs in collaboration with SERVICOM Office to put systems/mechanisms in place to ensure implementation of service standards within the delivery period of OGP NAPII, and that they should endeavour to spearhead, own and support their staff sensitization for the project and awareness campaign for their service takers.
Akajemeli said that, improving Service Delivery for citizens/customers’ satisfaction, is hinged on implementing the outlined SERVICOM Strategies with MDAs that would foster Openness, Transparency, Accountability and co-creation in Services delivered within the time frame which would in-turn translate to good governance.
In his welcome address the Director General National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) Dr. Philip Olusegun Ojo, who was represented by Dr. Ishiak Khalid, Director Seed certification and quality control stated that NASC is lucky to be numbered as one of the Agencies to run the process of Open Government Partnership (OGP), initiatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Moreover, he also said that the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) technical department is working assiduously to establish and ensure that Nigerian citizens get yielding seedlings and are not short-aged.
According to him ‘’ it is not our business to delay customers business’’ and he gave the councils full commitment and buy-in to support SERVICOM in the drive to attain improvements in Service delivery initiatives of Mr President through the OGP process.
Henrietta Okokon (Mrs)
Public Awareness Manager SERVICOM
