Abuja: The International Press Centre (IPC) has called for a revisit of the sanctions regime for Freedom of Information (FOI) Act violations by public officials. Mr Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of the IPC, made the call in Abuja in his opening remarks at the opening of a two-day Stakeholders' Technical Meeting on FOI Amendment Bill and Upgrade of Reporting and Compliance Mechanism.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event is organised by the IPC, lead partner, Component four (Support to Media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, phase II (EU-SDGN II) programme in collaboration with PLAC and YIAGA Africa. Arogundade said this was in view of the deliberate non-disclosure of information and public records by public officials.
He emphasized the need to revisit the regime of sanctions in the Act over a range of infringements by public officials dealing with deliberate non-disclosure of information and public records. He noted that it may seem odd that 14 years after the Act was signed into law, the question of amending the FOI Act has been raised.
Arogundade stated that the right of access to information remains crucial, being universally acknowledged as fundamental to democracy. He highlighted that political office holders often prioritize personal interest over public interest by withholding information.
He further explained the necessity of overhauling the reporting and compliance standards to enhance their effectiveness. He pointed out that many government ministries, departments, and agencies often escape public scrutiny due to the lack of detailed reporting to the National Assembly by the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, as required by Section 29 of the FOI Act.
Arogundade also mentioned the need for fresh provisions in the Act to ensure adequate resources for government obligations through budgeting, including capacity building as mandated by Section 13 of the Freedom of Information Act. He added that the Supreme Court now holds that the FOI Act applies to all levels of government, rendering state domestication unnecessary.