Fourteen years after the enactment of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, there is a renewed call for its vigorous implementation at the state and local government levels to bolster democracy, accountability, and citizen engagement across Nigeria.
This was the focal point of discussions at the South-South Regional Roundtable, held under the Strengthening Accountability and Governance in Nigeria Initiative (SAGNI) on Monday.
The event, organized by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), featured a keynote address by Samson Osagie, the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Edo State.
Osagie emphasized the FOI Act's role in promoting transparency and reducing corruption, advocating for a shift from reactive transparency to proactive accountability among government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
"Our MDAs must not wait to be asked before releasing public information. Data on budgets, contracts, procurements, and public health should be available by default," Osagie stated, urging for collaboration with civil society and the media to enhance citizen participation.
Faith Nwadishi, CTA's Executive Director, highlighted the challenges faced in implementing the FOI Act, noting persistent secrecy in many public institutions and the imposition of exorbitant fees for accessing information.
She lauded a 2024 Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the FOI Act's applicability across all 36 states as a pivotal moment in the push for transparency.
Nwadishi also announced initiatives to promote FOI usage, including the reopening of CTA's FOI Service Delivery Awards and an upcoming hackathon aimed at fostering innovation in FOI applications.
