By Fortune Oyem
Edo State Government says it’s ready to collaborate, innovate and lead by example to ensure that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the state, comply with the implementation of the freedom of Information Act.
The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Samson Osagie stated this in a keynote address at the South South Regional Roundtable on fourteen years of the Freedom of Information Act in Nigeria, held in Benin City, Edo state Capital.
Represented by a principal state Counsel of the Ministry, Mr Festus Usiobafo, the commissioner for Justice , said although the ministry have supported the disclosure of information through inter- agency cooperation and training of public officers on compliance, there was still need for improvement.
” The ministry of Justice has overtime supported disclosure of information through inter- agency cooperation, training of public officers on compliance and advisory opinions that promotes openness on Governance. But we must admit there’s room for improvement. We are ready to collaborate, innovate and lead by example”.
In a welcome address, Executive Director, Center for Transparency Advocacy, Ms Faith Nwadeshi, represented it’s Programme and Communications Manager, Mr Macdonald Ekemezie, said since the signing into law of the freedom of information act on May 28th 2011, implementation still remains weak in the Country.
”Many public institutions still operate in a culture of secrecy, while some are yet to establish the FOI unit. Some Websites are inactive even when the laws requires proactive disclosures of information by MDAs. Some agencies both at the federal and subnational levels outrightly refuse to respond to FOI request. Just recently, a Public institution demanded over one point two million Naira from us to access information that, by law, should be available on their website. Some outsource the response to Law firms outside the MDA. That is not only unacceptable – it’s a breach of the public right to know”.
On his part, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo state Council, Comrade Festus Alenkhe decried non compliance of the FOI law by some state Government.
”It’s becoming very worrisome that despite the law been acceded to by the then president in 2011, even with the supreme court judgement on this Law recently , most states is still not responding, so I believe that at the end of this discourse today we should be able to come out with a communique that we make most state Government and other heads of MDAs to see reasons that Will make them to comply “
Earlier, Executive Director, Africa network for environment and Economic justice , Reverend David Ugolor, represented by Mr Kelly Umukoro urged Edo state Government to establish FOI desks in all Ministries, Department and Agencies in the state.
” We are pleased to acknowledge the strengthing Accountability and Governance in Nigeria initiative project being implemented by CTA. We urge the Edo state Government to take the lead by establishing FOI desks in all MDAs, setting an example for other states.”
The event with the theme “14 years of FOI implementation at the Sub – National levels in Nigeria: Strengthening Acess, Accountability, and Citizen Engagement ” has participants drawn from Civil Society Organizations, Media and Edo state Government.
From Fortune Oyem, Radio Nigeria Benin, Edo State
