Overview

The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD) is leading critical efforts to entrench transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in governance through Nigeria’s adoption of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) at subnational levels. With funding from the MacArthur Foundation, Centre LSD supported new states to join the OGP and worked with existing partners to deepen their implementation efforts during the 2022 reporting year.

Why It Matters

Despite Nigeria's federal commitment to the OGP, implementation at the subnational level has faced slow uptake, weak institutional structures, and low citizen participation. The Centre’s intervention focused on expanding state-level buy-in, building administrative capacity, and ensuring civil society co-ownership through inclusive platforms and action plans.

Project Objectives

1. Facilitate the onboarding of seven (7) new states into the OGP.
2. Provide technical support to another seven (7) previously signed-on states.
3. Strengthen the implementation of State Action Plans (SAPs).
4. Support the OGP National Secretariat and National Steering Committee (NSC).
5. Empower media and civil society for stronger civic engagement and accountability.

Key Activities and Milestones

✳️ Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement

Centre LSD conducted high-level advocacy in Kogi, Sokoto, and Ondo, securing state commitment and consensus on technical support timelines. The Centre also strengthened its collaboration with the OGP Secretariat, helping to establish an M&E tracker to monitor SAP implementation at state level.

✳️ Capacity Building and Institutional Support

The Centre supported eight new states (Bauchi, Delta, Gombe, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Oyo, and Sokoto) to sign on to the OGP. Of these, four states: Delta, Kogi, Sokoto, and Gombe, received hands-on support in developing SAPs and establishing OGP administrative structures.

Delta has finalized its SAP and awaits gubernatorial assent, while Ondo and the other states are at various stages of validation and finalization.

✳️ National Technical Support

At the national level, Centre LSD:

• Supported the NSC in drafting an Executive Order on OGP presidential commitments.
• Provided financial assistance for the OGP M&E Clinic, enhancing implementation of National Action Plan II (NAP II).
• Mentored the Taraba State OGP team, helping reconstitute Thematic Working Groups and revitalize their SAP process.

✳️ Media and Awareness Campaigns

Centre LSD trained 20 journalists from across Nigeria, increasing OGP literacy among media practitioners. This has led to greater OGP-related media coverage, public education, and expanded engagement on the OGP Nigeria social platforms.

Outcomes and Impact

• ✅ 8 new states joined the OGP, bringing the total to 25, far exceeding the initial 7-state target.
• ✅ Centre LSD helped institutionalize OGP structures in at least 5 states, promoting sustainability and local ownership.
• ✅ Media coverage and public dialogue on OGP principles increased significantly, building momentum for civic engagement.
• ✅ Through the mentorship initiative, states like Taraba and Gombe resumed stalled efforts to operationalize OGP structures.

Policy Implications

The Centre’s work has triggered a positive shift in the relationship between government and civil society at the subnational level. Across newly signed-on states, there is growing recognition that co-creation, transparency, and citizen involvement are essential for democratic governance and improved service delivery.

In states where SAP implementation remains stalled, the Centre is initiating new rounds of advocacy, coaching, and mentoring to ensure follow-through.

Lessons Learned

• A multi-pronged engagement strategy, combining direct advocacy, technical support, and NSC-level influence, was critical to onboarding new states.
• Partnerships with peer organizations, such as State2State in Gombe, helped multiply impact while reducing duplication.
• Some states joined the OGP with unrealistic expectations of financial rewards. To counter this, Centre LSD has begun mentoring states on the intrinsic value of transparency and inclusion.

Challenges

• In some states (e.g., Ekiti, Abia, Anambra), political apathy has stalled SAP implementation.
• Misconceptions about OGP as a funding program created early momentum but later led to disengagement.
• Persistent lack of coordination among state actors continues to hinder implementation in certain states.

Centre LSD is actively addressing these challenges through advocacy letters, virtual meetings, and targeted re-engagements with state actors and focal persons.

Feedback and Future Recommendations

To sustain momentum and meet state-level requests for technical support, early release of grant funds is critical. Centre LSD also recommends continued use of the cohort model and deeper integration of partnership strategies to encourage peer learning and collaboration.

Looking Ahead

With more states signing up and implementation deepening, Centre LSD is working to:

• Support validation and execution of SAPs in at least 5 states.
• Institutionalize SAP monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Broker joint programming between CSOs and government actors.
• Push for full adoption of the Executive Order on OGP at the federal level.

Conclusion

This project has demonstrated that sustained advocacy, strategic partnerships, and technical guidance can drive system-level reforms. By building subnational OGP structures and empowering civil society, Centre LSD is helping to restore citizen trust and expand inclusive governance in Nigeria.

Gallery

Images from Advancing Open Government Partnership (OGP) Implementation at the Subnational Level