CSOs Push FG to Fund, Accelerate Open Government Reforms as OGP Week 2026 Begins

A coalition of Civil Society Groups (CSO) has urged the Federal Government to back its open governance pledges with funding and stronger political will, warning that slow implementation is weakening public trust.

The call came in a joint statement to mark Open Government Partnership (OGP) Week 2026 signed on Monday  read to newsmen in Abuja by Fath Nwadishi Executive Director Centre for Transparency, Tijani Adulkareem, Executive Director Socio-Economic Research and Development Center (SERDEC), Princess Hamma Obels Director Institute for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development ( IRIAD), Lucy James Abagi Chief Executive Officer of Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Uchenna Eristus, Civil Society Adviser.

The groups said Nigeria has made some headway since joining the Open Government Partnership in July 2016, including progress on fiscal transparency, beneficial ownership disclosure, digital governance, and citizen participation. But they noted that many commitments in the three National Action Plans rolled out so far remain only partly implemented or stalled.

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Weak coordination between agencies, insufficient funding, slow execution, poor monitoring, and uneven political support were cited as the main obstacles.

“As the global community commemorates the 2026 Open Government Partnership Week, we call attention to the slow pace of implementation of open government reforms in Nigeria and the urgent need for stronger government commitment to the OGP process,” the statement said.

The coalition wants the government to sign and begin executing National Action Plan IV, allocate sustainable funding for OGP activities, and ensure ministries, departments, and agencies follow through on their commitments. It also pushed for tighter coordination and monitoring systems, and for more space for citizens and civil society to take part in governance.

“Open government reforms must go beyond policy declarations and translate into concrete actions that improve transparency, public accountability, service delivery, and citizen confidence in government institutions,” the groups added.

The groups said OGP Week 2026 should be used to renew collective efforts toward a more open, accountable, and participatory system of governance in Nigeria.

According to them access to information om public centric projects will boost citizens participation in governance thereby enhancing democracy in the country.

The Public and Private Development Centre hosted the event in Abuja.