Open Government Strengthens Democracy – US Consult General
By Jude l Ojiugo-Onochie
The consult general of the United States (US) in Nigeria, Mr. Will Stevens yesterday in Asaba, said open government is a vital tool for strengthening democracy and good governance.
Speaking at the “Open Government Town Hall meeting Asaba 2023” hold at the conference Hall of Vienna Hotel in the State, Delta State Capital, the US Consult-General who was at the Town Hall meeting with some officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said he was proud to be at the meeting with his colleagues to support the Open Government Project.
Open Government, according to Mr. Will Stevens strengthens both the government and citizens by eliminating opportunities for corruption and enabling citizens to have a better understanding of the activities of the government.
With Open Government, the Consult general explained government becomes more transparent and participatory, making it easier for for citizens to hold their government to account.
Speaking further at the occasion, the US Consult-General said Civil Society have a critical role to play in the Open Government Project, describing Civil Society as “the muscle and sinew of any functioning democracy* if Civil Society is strong in a Society, democracy will be strong in that Society and vice-versa he stressed.
Earlier in his opening remark, the Executive Director of Policy Alert, the Civil Society Organisation that co-ordinated the Organisation of the meeting Mr. Tijah Bolton-Akpan, said the Town Hall meeting was held to provide a platform for Citizens to meet Candidates for Delta State governorship election in the 2023 Polls and demand for the commitment of the Candidates to the Open Government Project of elected into office.
