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Dabiri: Reps passed FOI Bill
The National Assembly, the Freedom of Information Bill was finally passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday.The House had first passed the Bill in 2006, followed by the Senate but former President Olusegun Obasanjo refused to append his signature to turn it into an Act. All but one (Clause 18) of the 34 clauses in the bill were passed by the House on Thursday.
The clause deals with “drafts” and preliminary information, which in the opinion of the House, cannot be cited as a public document because work on them has not been concluded.
The explanatory note of the committee on why the clause was deleted, reads, “This clause was deleted because it relates to information that has not been perfected and no public institution can be held responsible for proposals and decisions not perfected.”
One of the key sponsors of the bill, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, celebrated the action of the House on Thursday.
“I am happy that after 11 years of struggle, we have an FOI bill in Nigeria.“This will deepen democracy and ensure accountability in governance; it is not a media bill,” she said. Dabiri-Erewa appealed to the Senate to take a cue from the House by concurring to the bill.
“That is a hurdle remaining for us to cross.“If the Senate passes it with differences, we still have to meet and harmonise the two versions,” she added.
Dabiri:Dabiri-Erewa appealed to the Senate to take a cue from the House by concurring to the bill.
FINALLY! The Freedom of Information Bill was finally passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday. The FOI simply gives right of access to public information to all Nigerians. This will deepen democracy and ensure accountability in governance. However, the next hurdle is the Senate. I am happy that after 11 years of struggle, we... will have an FOI bill in Nigeria.The minister who addressed the press in company with National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr. Mohammed Garba, also urged media workers to do their own part by insisting on ethics of the profession and truth in their reporting.
The minister who addressed the press in company with National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr. Mohammed Garba, also urged media workers to do their own part by insisting on ethics of the profession and truth in their reporting.
Also, the Nigerian Guild of Editors said it received with great joy the passage of the FOI Bill by the House.
Presdent of the Guide, Gbenga adefaye, in a statement, on Thursday said, “This is the second time within a decade, that the House would respond to our collective hunger for openness and transparency in the administration of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The FOI law will certainly aid accountability in our public life.
“It is remarkable that the leadership of the House of Representatives has kept its words to the Guild, to pass this bill because it agrees that the nation (not just the media) needs it. The Guild will like to note also the concurrence of the leadership of the House that a Freedom of Information Law will make legislation easier as nobody in the Ministries and the MDAs can withhold information that is needed for public good - whether for legislative purposes or basic information and education of the citizenry by the media.”
Adefaye, therefore, called on the Senate “to borrow a leaf from the House of Representatives by passing the Bill early enough for Presidential assent.”
Courtesy Punch Newspaper
