FIC Report (Kaduna State) – The Kaduna State has recorded another milestone in its governance reform journey, becoming the first subnational government globally to commence the domestication of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) framework across all 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) with a focus on improving Primary Health Care (PHC) service delivery.
The initiative was unveiled at the opening of a three-day Orientation Workshop for Local Government Chairmen on the Domestication of OGP for Improved Primary Health Care Delivery held in Abuja.
Organized by the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission and the Ministry of Local Government Affairs in collaboration with EngenderHealth and the OGP National Secretariat, the workshop brought together local government chairmen, government officials, civil society organizations and development partners to strengthen transparency, accountability and citizen participation in healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, who represented Governor Senator Uba Sani, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare as a cornerstone of the state’s Rural Transformation Agenda.
She described strong primary healthcare systems as the foundation of effective healthcare delivery and emphasized that access to quality healthcare remains critical to economic growth, social stability and human capital development.
According to the Deputy Governor, the domestication of OGP at the local government level will promote transparency in resource allocation, strengthen accountability in service delivery and encourage greater community participation in decision-making.
She challenged local government leaders to view healthcare delivery as a governance responsibility, stressing that preventable maternal and child deaths, poor immunization coverage and weak health systems are issues that require leadership and accountability at all levels.
Dr. Balarabe also urged the chairmen to translate commitments made during an earlier retreat in Kano into concrete actions by prioritizing PHC and institutionalizing open governance principles within their councils.
She said government works best when it works openly and collaboratively with the people it serves. By embracing openness, we create opportunities for citizens to participate in decision-making, monitor public services and hold institutions accountable for results.
In his remarks, the Co-Chair of Civil Society at the OGP National Secretariat, Mr. Uchenna Asirukwo, commended Kaduna State for its pioneering role in advancing open government reforms in Nigeria.
He noted that Kaduna was the first subnational government in the country to join OGP and has continued to lead reforms that promote transparency and accountability. He described the move to domesticate OGP across all 23 LGAs for improved primary healthcare delivery as another groundbreaking achievement.
Participants also received insights from Kaduna South Local Government Area, which shared its experience as the first local government globally to pioneer the application of OGP principles in primary healthcare delivery.
The workshop attracted senior government officials, civil society organizations and development partners, including the Gates Foundation, Lafiya Programme, EngenderHealth and UNICEF.
Signed:
Muhammad Gwani
AD FIRC KADUNA
15th June,2026.
