Civic Space: Policy Alert’s ED, Tijah Bolton-Akpan, 9 Others Nominated To OGP National Steering Committee

By Jonathan Ugbal

The Executive Director of Policy Alert, a civic space organization operating in the Niger Delta has been nominated alongside nine others to the National Steering Committee, NSC of the Open Government Partnership, OGP in Nigeria.

The OGP is a global initiative that promotes transparency, citizen participation, and accountability in government. Nigeria joined the OGP in July 2016 as the 70th member country.

“The NSC, drawn from an equal number of government and non-state actors, is responsible for formulating policies, overseeing the OGP’s operations, and providing guidance and direction to its members,” a statement from Policy Alert read.

“I am especially thrilled and humbled at this call to service, especially at this momentous period when critical reform initiatives at all levels are happening at the same time with serious threats to civic space.

“Moving forward despite these challenges will require innovation, courage, and a commitment to continuous learning and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee to up the ante on the quality of engagement on urgent reforms that can make a real difference in the lives of citizens,” Bolton-Akpan was quoted as saying.

Since 2018, Mr. Bolton-Akpan led Policy Alert to serve as Co-convener and Secretariat of the Niger Delta Open Government Observatory (NOGO), an initiative to enhance OGP uptake and implementation by States and Local Governments in the Niger Delta.

He is expected to bring to the OGP NSC, over 20 of local and international experience in program management and consulting roles in the development sector, spanning fundraising, organizational development, social research, policy analysis, and advocacy. Also, he is to help guide efforts to implement Nigeria’s Third OGP National Action Plan (NAP III).

Three out of the other nine nominees are returning members of the NSC. They are Ms. Obialunanma Nnaobi-Ayodele of Meluibe Foundation, Mr. Eze Onyekpere of Centre for Social Justice, and Dr. Tayo Aduloju, Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Yakubu Maikyau SAN; Mr. Soji Apampa of the Integrity Organisation and the Executive Director of Order Paper, Oke Epia make the list of new members.

Also, Ms. Faith Nwadishi of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, CTA, Tijani Abdulkareem of the Socio-Economic Development and Research Centre SERDEC, and Olanrewaju Suraj of HEDA Resource Center are on the list released by the OGP national secretariat.