Dons want Official Secret Act repealed

Lecturers from two different universities yesterday urged the National Assembly to repeal the Official Secret Act which compels public and civil servants to swear to an oath not to divulge or release official information or records.

Dr Walter Duru, head of Mass Communications Department of Madonna University and Dr Temitope Olaiya of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, spoke in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Capital, at a three-day training on social mobilisation for awareness on the Freedom of Information Act.

They said the Act had been stumbling block for effective implementation of the Freedom of Information Act signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Duru described the Official Secret Oath as bedrock of corruption.

“The FOIA was passed into law by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 to enable the public to access certain government information and ensure transparency and accountability. It has given Nigerians legal right to records and documents held by government and private bodies carrying out public functions.

“The law applies to all arms and tiers of government in Nigeria. If citizens fold their arms and journalists do not do follow up on reported cases, the situation would remain the same,” he said.

For her part, Olaiya said there should be deliberate efforts by public officials to assuage the yearning of those they govern by availing them with much needed information.