FOI Act provides legal backing to access information – AGF

The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, has stressed that the Freedom of Information Act 2011 provides a legal guarantee for access to information, adding that it requires public institutions to proactively publish certain classes of information as well as to release information upon request.

The AGF disclosed this at the Media Launch and Official Handover of the Federal Ministry of Justice Upgraded Website and FOI Portal handed over to the Ministry by the Right to Know (R2K) Nigeria on Thursday at the Ministry’s headquarters.

Malami stated that, the Act provides a legal guarantee for access to information and requires public institutions to proactively publish certain classes of information as well as to release information upon request.”

The Act according to him, has specifically highlighted the fact that access is necessary for meaningful exercise of free expression on matters of public or political interest.

The Minister affirmed that, Section 29 (1) of the Act establishes in the Attorney General of the Federation an oversight organ for monitoring, promoting and protecting the right to access records and information.

He also revealed that, it mandates all public institutions to submit to his office on or before February 1st of each year, a report on their compliance status.

Malami further expressed that his Office in pursuant to the realization of the intent and the spirit of the FOIA, serves as the FOI ombudsmen to resolve non-compliance complaints by impressing it on MDAs to respond to FOI requests.

He reiterated that the unveiling, official handover and eventual use of the FOI web portal will go a long way towards demonstrating the current administration’s commitment to the principles of full disclosure, transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business.

He reaffirmed that, during the London Summit on Anti-Corruption held in May 2016, the President made an international commitment to fight corruption and also to join the Open Government Partnership which Nigeria became a full member of the International OGP in July 2016 as the 70th nation.

He mentioned that one of the thematic areas is the Access to Information with two commitments; to promote and actualise the rights of citizens to request and receive information about how they are governed and how the resources of Nigeria are utilised.

The AGF therefore insisted that one of the ways to implement these commitments is through the use of technology and innovation to make public information available to the citizens, surmising that the setting of the FOI portal is a response to the need which is coming at a very auspicious time.

Earlier in her remark, the Coordinator, Right to Know (R2K), Nigeria, Eni Nwankpa prevailed on relevant stakeholders to use, monitor and report on the implementation and success or otherwise of the FOI portals so far developed specifically for Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and now Federal Ministry of Justice.

She said they are part of efforts to strengthen access to information, transparency and accountability in public service in the country.

Eni further urged the Ministry to sustain the operation of the FOI portal to proactively disclose information as well as respond to public inquires on its operations and services to citizens as part of its everyday duty.

The RTK coordinator also encouraged the Ministry to utilize its oversight functions as prescribed by the FOI portals on their respective website as part of efforts to implement the Open Government Policy optimally.

Also in her opening remarks, Director, Planning Research and Statistics (PRS), Beatrice Yedi-Agba represented by her Assistant Director, Odiomeme Akanni, said that the restructured FOI portal allows for submission of requests, viewing applications and tracking responses on requests.

She pointed out that, the website and FOI portal will serve the ultimate good to the large society and depicting the transparency and accountability in the affairs of the Ministry.

 

SEYI ANJORIN, Abuja