AGF Fagbemi Urges Nigerians To Use Freedom Of Information Act To Demand Accountability

Fagbemi made the call on Wednesday during the One Day Stakeholders Town Hall Meeting on Application of Freedom of Information, FoI Act, organised by Center for Transparency Advocacy 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 FoI Department of the Federal Ministry of Justice, said that the present administration in the country is no longer ready to do anything in secrecy.

According to Fagbemi, “The Government of Nigeria is no longer interested in doing government business in secrecy and through the FOIA it has given the citizen of this great country power to access government information and records without being asked the reason for the usage.

“The Act also provides for people with disability to access government records. Access can be made orally to public institutions to access information.

“Aside of reactive response to FOIA request, public institutions are expected to proactive 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 that you must comply with before releasing certain government information and records and also there are certain information that the Act does not apply to.”

Fagbemi commended Anambra State Government which has been making use of the Act, enabling Anambra people to know what the government is doing.

“I’m employing 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,” he said.

Earlier in her welcome address, Executive Director Centre for Transparency Advocacy, CTA, Ms Faith Nwadishi, regretted that the people that passed the FoI Act, went to sleep and over 14 years after the bill’s passage, many Nigerians still do not know anything about it.

Nwadishi said the Act not only enabled citizens, including women, the youth and 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.

Nwadishi said, “This meeting offered participants opportunity to explore essential role of the Act in promoting the rights of women, youth, People Living with Disabilities, 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.

“It is important to note that corruption is almost becoming a pandemic, pervasive and a threat to our collective existence as a people. It has also become a threat to democratic governance, a threat to economic development, and a threat to social justice.

“We need not be reminded that corruption undermines the rule of law, perpetuates inequality and disproportionately affects women and marginalized communities including you and I.

“Nevertheless, our gathering today is not to lament and see all of us here including the women, the youth and PWDs as victims of corruption but as amazons, resilient and powerful change agents.

“All we need are information, access to resources, and opportunities to be able to demonstrate the transformative role that promotes accountability, transparency and good governance.

“We are glad with the enactment of The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)2011 which should have become a critical tool in the fight against corruption, but due to lack of information, lack of awareness and most times deliberate act of officials to deny citizens access to information when it is requested does not appear to be playing this role as it ought to be by, providing citizens with the right to access information.”