Open Data Enhances Transparency In Governance – Perm Sec- Istifanus

BY GLORIA USMAN, ABUJA – Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Communications, Mr. Musa Istifanus has said that open data enhances transparency in governance and can help mobilise citizens to participate in governance positively.

Istifanus, who stated this at the Nigeria Open Data Conference for the North West Zone with the theme, ‘Harnessing Public Data Assets for Economic Recovery and Growth,’ said the ministry of Communications has developed a draft Open Data policy and Action Plan that will enhance the releases of certain Data Assets across different categories of economic sectors in the country.

In his words; “open Data is an integral part of the global data revolution. It is a programme through which countries manage their data assets as a national resource to create an innovative economy for jobs, service delivery and to promote economic growth. This, they do by making available, through online platform non-sensitive data to citizens and other stakeholders in reusable, machine readable formats for planning and economic decisions making”.

He said in view of the dwindling revenues accruing to the nation from oil and gas, there is the need for alternative revenue base for achieving the main policy thrusts of Government adding that Open Data Initiative offers the new opportunity. 

Istifanus also said that the ministry, in its efforts towards promoting Open Data Economy, started holding stakeholders’ sensitisation workshops and has established the Open Data Working Group saddled with the responsibility of primary governance of this new initiative.

He further said; “Our efforts so far have yielded some results as many data companies and civil society groups are keying into the Open Data ecosystem and urged stakeholders present to join the Ministry in validating the draft Open Data Policy and Action Plan.”

In his presentation, Managing Consultant, PacePact Consulting Limited, Mr. John Eweama said that data must be in open format to enable citizens to access and utilized for innovation by entrepreneurs for maximum benefit to the citizens and the economy.

In her own remarks, Chindima IIechukwu from the Attorney General of the Federation Office said that Open Government Partnership (OGP) provides opportunity for government and citizens to jointly made policy for the good of the nation.

Earlier, the representative of the Kano State Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Ahmed Musa Jubril, said the initiative would open up non-sensitive public data assets to promote a new ICT- powered data industry.