BY AYO ESAN
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Egalitarian Mission for Africa, has said that democracy cannot flourish if governments operate in secrecy.
This is just as it revealed that 80 per cent of Governmental Ministries, Departments, Agencies and other public institutions in Nigeria violate the Freedom of Information Act.
The organisation said this in a release signed by its Chairman, Board of Trustees, Kayode Ajulo; General Secretary, Oladimeji Akinola; and Principal Counsel, Hamza Nuhu Dantali.
It said, “Sadly, to say the least, as a Non-Governmental Organisation whose activities border on the enthronement of the rule of law, good governance, accountability, transparency, anti-corruption, and adherence to due process, we have conducted our due dilgence and our research, including inquiries at the office of the Attorney General of the Federation clearly show that about 80% of Governmental Ministries, Departments, Agencies and other Public Institutions are in gross violation of the sacrosanct provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.”
It added that many of the Public Institutions failed to remit to the Attorney General of the Federation, annual returns on compliance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
The statement said, “Despite these salient and unambiguous provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, the sad reality is that most of the Public Institutions in Nigeria are in constant violation of the Act with every sense of impunity and the perdurable question to ask is: why would a Public Institution fail to make information available to the public even when the Act specifically provides that an application fee may be charged?
“There is a general public interest in promoting transparency, accountability, public understanding and involvement in the democratic process. Democracy cannot flourish if governments operate in secrecy. Indeed the very nature and quality of public participation in their government would be significantly impoverished without the nourishment of information from public authorities.
“To guarantee freedom of expression without including freedom of information would be a formal exercise, denying both effective expression in practice and a key goal which free expression seeks to serve.
“It is on the backdrop of the above that Egalitarian Mission for Africa, in collaboration with other partners, civil societies organizations, journalists, researchers, academicians and well spirited lawyers, have declared 2021 as the year of war against lack of transparency, accountability and probity in government and to this cause we are committed.
“Any Public Institution, public officer who fails to comply with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act shall be made to face the wrath of the law.”
The Mission called on the office of the Attorney General of the Federation to take the bull by the horn by ensuring that all Public Institutions adhered strictly to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
“Nigerians are entitled to know how the common wealth is being utilised, managed and administered in a democratic setting, as this positively influences the feeling of belonging in the society and we shall pursue same to a logical conclusion,” it said.
