The Executive Chairman of Kaduna South Local Government, Hon. Rayyan Hussain MPSCM FICA, has shared the Local Government’s experience and achievements under the Open Government Partnership (OGP) with 22 Local Government Chairmen during a three-day sensitization and onboarding programme in Kaduna.

The programme was organized by the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government Affairs and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, with support from EngenderHealth-led Consortium Partners. Following the successful onboarding of Kaduna South Local Government onto the OGP platform, the Chairman was invited to share the Local Government’s journey and lessons from its implementation of open governance principles.

During his presentation, Hon. Rayyan Hussain highlighted how transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and inclusive governance have contributed to the transformation being recorded across Kaduna South, particularly in healthcare service delivery. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that citizens are not merely recipients of government services but active participants in identifying needs, shaping solutions, and monitoring public programmes.

The Chairman also participated in a panel discussion where he shared the experience of restructuring Ward Development Committees (WDCs) to strengthen community ownership and improve healthcare outcomes. He explained how greater community participation and stronger local structures have helped to improve engagement between healthcare facilities and the communities they serve.

“Open governance is not simply about joining an international platform; it is about changing the way government works. When citizens are informed, included, and empowered to participate, government becomes more responsive and development becomes more sustainable. Our experience in Kaduna South shows that transparency, accountability, and citizen participation can produce measurable improvements in service delivery.” — Hon. Rayyan Hussain MPSCM FICA

 

Hon. Rayyan Hussain further highlighted the role of the SUSTAIN Agenda of His Excellency Governor Uba Sani CON in strengthening collaboration between the Kaduna State Government and Local Governments. According to him, improved coordination has supported more effective implementation of key health sector reforms, including the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and the Primary Healthcare Under One Roof (PHCUOR) reforms.

The engagement provided an opportunity for Kaduna South Local Government to encourage other Local Governments to embrace open governance as a practical tool for accelerating development, strengthening accountability, and improving the quality of public services delivered to citizens.

Kaduna South Local Government remains committed to deepening its OGP commitments and promoting a culture of transparent, inclusive, and citizen-centred governance in line with the broader development vision of His Excellency Governor Uba Sani CON.