FOI Act: Civil rights group laments non-compliance by state govts

Acoalition of civil rights group under the aegis of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has called on leadership of National Assembly to initiate process of reviewing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in a way that would ensure conformity at state level. At a press briefing addressed by CACOL National Coordinator, Debo Adeniran in Lagos, the group also lamented what it called deliberate attempts by many state governments in refusing access to public documents and information.

According to Adeniran the FOI Act which was championed by media practitioners and civil rights activists for over a decade was eventually signed into law in 2011 by President Goodluck Jonathan. He said the Act is a national law that is meant to bind on all states of the federation but it has been spuriously abused by officials of state governments who always hide under the excuse that such has not been “domesticated” in their states.

“We are calling on the leadership of National Assembly to as a matter of urgency initiate the process of reviewing the Freedom of Information Act as enacted. We demand the National Assembly under the proposed review to state categorically that under no circumstance

should any MDA either at federal or state level reject enquiry targeted at extracting information that has to do with public interest,” Adeniran said.

According to the group, the National Assembly should also ensure that rather than going to court to resolve disputes that may arise from applying and receiving information through the FOI Act, an ombudsman should be put in place. The rights activists mentioned Nasarawa and Lagos states as two houses of assemblies that have so far inhibit the group from having access to public documents at their disposal.

“Our concern that Nigerian political elites are conspiring against FOI Act as part of the nerve-wrecking antics against anti-corruption crusade is real and without sounding alarmists. We are aware and equally concerned that Nasarawa State is not alone in the gang-up of the political elite against FOI Act. It is disturbing that some states, as exhibited by Lagos state in a recent publicized court action for example, are embarking on the fruitless journey of challenging the legality of FOI Act and its applicability in their domains.

“We consider such action as unbecoming as it amounts to deliberate and willful attempt to frustrate Nigerians to abandon the opportunities for democratic engagement as provided for by the FOI Act,” Adeniran said.