Stakeholders in the Media and Civil Society Organisations (CSO) have called for sustained funding in addressing principal gaps and implementation challenges in the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
This is contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the Stakeholders’ Technical Meeting on FOI Amendment Bill and Reporting/Compliance Mechanism which held recently in Abuja.
The communiqué was signed by Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), and Dr Ruqqayah Aliyu, Bayero University, Kano.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, which held from July 28 to July 29, had stakeholders in the media, civil society organisations, and the academia.
The event was organised by the IPC, lead partner, Component four (Support to Media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, phase II (EU-SDGN II) programme in collaboration with PLAC and YIAGA Africa.
Participants noted that funding should include regular training and capacity-building programmes for officials, particularly FOI Desk Officers.
It is also to include digitising records; and preparing, publishing, submitting, and disseminating annual FOI reports to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the public, as required by the Act.
Participants said that resources should be expressly allocated to the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to enhance their capacity to oversee, monitor, and ensure compliance with the FOI Act by all public institutions, while also allowing them to fulfil their responsibilities and obligations as entities governed by the Act.
They also noted that the annual implementation reports submitted by the Attorney-General of the Federation to the National Assembly would benefit from enhanced formatting.
Participants recommended that stakeholders should give due consideration to proposing a comprehensive amendment Bill aimed at addressing the principal gaps and implementation challenges present in the current Act.
According to the communiqué, this Bill should be prepared for presentation to all the sponsors at the National Assembly for harmonisation with the two existing amendment Bills.
“By doing so, the shortcomings of the Act can be addressed collectively rather than through a fragmented, piecemeal approach.
“The Act’s enforcement mechanisms will benefit from enhancement by minimising excessive dependence on the courts and establishing a robust administrative sanctions framework.
“This should include clear procedures for enforcing non-compliance that do not constitute criminal conduct. All public institutions are to be encouraged to establish a specific budget line in their annual budget proposals and allocate necessary funds for implementing the FOI Act.”
Participants said that the improvement should include the identification and naming of all public institutions who do not comply with the act’s obligations, among others.
By Deborah Coker
