By Nworisa Michael
The appointment of Hon. Comr. Nura Iro Ma’aji and Musaddiq Kabir Adam into key positions within the Kano State Open Government Partnership (OGP) framework has once again highlighted the commitment of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to a governance model that recognizes civil society as an indispensable partner. The governor’s recent decision does more than fill official roles; it underscores a deliberate effort to integrate civic actors into the heart of state decision-making effectively treating them as a “fourth arm” of government.
Nura Iro Ma’aji, who now serves as the Government Co-Chair of the OGP Steering Committee, brings with him a long-standing history in transparency advocacy. Even before becoming Commissioner for Public Procurement and Monitoring & Evaluation, he was a prominent voice within Kano’s civil-society space, consistently pushing for openness in public spending and procurement processes. His appointment to lead the state’s OGP structure is widely seen as an alignment of his activism journey with formal governance responsibilities.
Musaddiq Kabir Adam, newly appointed as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on OGP, also comes from a strong civil-society background. He has been involved in governance reforms, community engagement and citizen-led monitoring exercises that aim to make public institutions more responsive. With the governor establishing a fully functional OGP Secretariat, their appointments carry both weight and purpose, signalling that this administration is institutionalizing transparency rather than treating it as a slogan.
The idea of civil society functioning as a “4th arm” of government has long been discussed in democratic spaces, but Kano under Governor Yusuf appears to be one of the few states where it is being practiced deliberately. His administration does not perceive civil-society groups as critics standing outside government gates, but as partners whose participation enriches public trust and ensures accountability from within. This integration allows for independent-minded individuals to contribute to oversight, policy shaping and the tracking of government commitments.
Governor Yusuf’s approach builds on a pattern already visible in his administration. Earlier in the year, the government convened a broad coalition of CSOs to address social challenges, youth restiveness and community-level insecurity. The administration’s public posture has been that long-lasting solutions require both state action and civic participation. By consistently inviting civil-society actors into governance conversations and now elevating them to official positions the governor is reinforcing that conviction.
Kano’s civil-society community has welcomed this direction, noting that their involvement is not symbolic but genuinely reflected in policy outcomes. Figures such as Hon. Comr. Ibrahim A. Waiya (Commissioner for Information & Internal Affairs), Hon. Barr. Maimuna Umar (SA on Community Policing), Hon. Comr. Kabir Dakata (Director, Kano Signage And Advertisment Agency ) and several others have also been part of this wave all individuals who were active CSO leaders long before their appointments and have continued to demonstrate strong performance in their current roles.
What this signals is a broader shift in governance philosophy. Rather than centralizing power, the Yusuf administration is opening doors for collaboration, scrutiny and shared ownership of public reforms. In a state where public trust has often been shaped by political divides, this inclusive model positions Kano as a growing example of modern, participatory governance.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s decision to entrust civil-society leaders with significant responsibilities is more than a political gesture it is a message that civic voices matter, that governance is most effective when shared, and that transparency grows stronger when citizens help shape it. The result is an administration that does not just govern for the people, but one that increasingly governs with them.