Nigerians urged to use FOI Act for Government Accountability
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Nigerians urged to use FOI Act for Government Accountability
By Flomedia Reporter
Nigerians have been encouraged to use the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011, to hold government officials accountable and promote transparency in governance.
This call was made by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, during a stakeholders’ town hall meeting on the application of the FOI Act held in Benin City, Edo State.
Represented by Mr Godwin Garuba, Assistant Director and Head of the FOI Unit at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Fagbemi highlighted that the FOI Act, enacted on May 28, 2011, has transformed governance by shifting from secrecy to citizen participation.
He emphasised that the Act empowers Nigerians to seek information about government activities, fostering transparency and accountability.
Mr Fagbemi urged public institutions to maintain proper records to facilitate easy access to information. However, he noted that while the Act guarantees the right to access information, certain exemptions must be respected to protect sensitive government records.
The Minister also addressed the absence of a domesticated FOI law in Edo State, urging participants to use the Act responsibly for its intended purpose of promoting transparency and accountability, rather than for blackmail or political vendettas.
Ms Faith Nwadishi, Executive Director of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, explained that the town hall meeting aimed to educate participants on the importance of the FOI Act in demanding accountability from government officials.
In his remarks, Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Samson Osagie, represented by an Assistant Director, acknowledged the state’s ongoing efforts to domesticate the FOI law.
The event, organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice and supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme, brought together participants from the media, academia, and civil society organisations.eral and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Samson Osagie, represented by an Assistant Director, acknowledged the state’s ongoing efforts to domesticate the FOI law.
The event, organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice and supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme, brought together participants from the media, academia, and civil society organisations.
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