Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, yesterday said that with Freedom of Information Act, FoIA, the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the incumbent government of President Bola Tinubu, is no longer ready to do government businesses in secrecy.
Fagbemi, therefore, advise Nigerians to use the FoIA, to demand accountability and even their rights, from their elected and appointed representatives in Federal and State governments.
He also urged public office holders to make their activities public for people to rate them, saying that FoI Act, has given them the opportunity to clear rumours surrounding their offices.
He made the calls during the One Day Stakeholders Town Hall Meeting on “Application of Freedom of Information, FoI Act, organized by Center for Transparency Advocacy, CTA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice, held at Finotel Hotel Awka Anambra State.
Fagbemi who was represented by Garba Sunday, a lawyer in the FoIA Department of Federal of the Federal Ministry of Justice, said that FoI Act has given the citizen of Nigeria power to access government information and records without being asked the reason for their usage.
According to Fagbemi, SAN, “The Act also provides for people with disability and the vulnerable to access government records, noting that requests for release of such information, must be in writing and not orally.
“Aside of reactive response to FoIA request, public institutions are expected to proactively disclose their activities in the public space for free of access by the public. To ensure easy implementation of the Act, public institutions must ensure that they keep their records in such a way that it will be easy to access by any requester.
“Despite the fact that the Act guaranteed right to access to information, there are exemptions and conditions you must comply with before certain government information and records are released, and also there are certain information that the Act does not apply to.
“I understand that Anambra State government has been making use of Act, enabling Anambra people to know what the government is doing, the government must be commended for doing that.
“I’m imploring everyone in the country to avail themselves of FoIA instrument to know the activities of the government and hold them accountable to the citizen. It is your right to know and participate in the governance of this great country.
“We are also appreciating RoLAC through CTA for making this town hall meeting on FOI Act possible. Remember that the purpose of FOI Act is for transparency, accountability, openness and good governance in public sector. And not for blackmailing and fighting the government.”
Earlier in her opening remark, Executive Director of CTA, Faith Nwadishi, regretted that the people who passed the FOI Act, went to sleep, adding that over 14 years after the FoI Bill passage, many Nigerians still do know anything about it.
Ms Nwadishi said the Act not only enabled citizens, including women, the youth and People With Disabilities, PWDs to hold governments and institutions accountable for their actions, but allowed them to track budgets, monitor programmes, and expose corruption where and when they occurred.
She said the meeting offered participants opportunity to explore essential role of the Act in promoting the rights of women, youth, PWDs and other Nigerians that strive for equity and inclusion in the fight against corruption.
“This event is one among the CTA activities that focuses on promoting transparency and accountability in governance, highlighting the efforts of the Strengthening Accountability and Governance in Nigeria Initiative, SAGNI, in the Federal Capital Territory, Anambra State, and Edo State through FOI,” Nwadishi said.
