Freedom Of Information Act 2011

SENSITIZATION WORKSHOP FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY & GRASSROOTS ORGANISATIONS ON THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. daniel@aneej.org

Acronyms and Abbreviations

FOIA – Freedom of Information Act

MRA- Media Rights Agenda

CSO – Civil Society Organisation

FBO – Faith Based Organisation

CBO – Community Based Organisation

AGF – Attorney General of the Federation

ICPC – Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission

Introduction

The sensitization workshop was organised by MRA on the need for civil society organisations to use the FOIA in holding public institutions accountable and also enshrining the need for transparency. The meeting held at Prestige Hotel and Suites, Benin City on Tuesday October 30, 2012.

The target audience were representatives of various CSOs. CBOS,  FBOs, and grass roots organisations in Edo State.

Objectives of the Sensitization Workshop

1.      To Build the Capacity of CSOs, including CBOs, FBOs & other grassroots organisations, to effectively utilize the FOI Act.

2.      To encourage & motivate CSOs, including CBOs, FBOs, & other grassroots organisations, to make request for information under the FOI Act in areas which will lead to a more enhanced quality of life in society.

3.      To encourage the workshop participants to mainstream FOI in their organisations, regardless of the sectors in which they work.

4.      To train participants to formulate actual request for information relevant to their sectors and thereby increase their chances of obtaining information from public institutions & private entities that are relevant to the sectors in which they work

5.      To encourage participants to submit request to any public institution with information of interest to them after the workshop & to provide MRA with feedback on the outcome of such effort

6.      To encourage participants & equip them with the knowledge, skills & practical tools to sensitize & train others in their immediate communities to use the FOI Act.

Further Details

The meeting brings out the importance & underlying philosophy of FOIA aptly captured by Article IV (i) of the declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa which states that: “Public bodies hold information not for themselves but as custodians of the public good and everyone has a right to access this information…”

In effect, therefore, every person has a legally enforceable right of access to records, documents and information held by public institutions, subject to certain exemptions stated in the Act. This right applies to both legal (Registered companies/organisations) and natural persons (you & I). The law stretches further to state that rights to information is not subject to citizenship making it possible for non- citizens living in Nigeria to be able to access information.

Participants were taken through the various importance of the FOIA which serves as a tool in fighting corruption and establishing democratic accountability and good governance. In the area of promoting the respect of human rights, the FOI law can facilitate access to reports of investigations into allegations of human rights violations, making it easier to get speedy judgement in human rights cases. 

Participants also looked at the timeframe for responses on information been sought, exempted information, judicial review, the role of the AGF and various offences and punishment under the FOIA. The Act supersedes the provisions of all other Acts, Laws or Regulations(the official secret Act, the Evidence Act, the Criminal Code, the Penal Code, the Federal Public Service Rules. etc.), except the Constitution & those Laws entrenched in the Constitution like the ICPC Law.   

There was a video documentary on how freedom of information law was used by disempowered communities in India to fight corruption and enforce their right of information.