National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
By Christiana Gabriel
Journalists and media professionals have called on the Nigerian government to fully enforce the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to promote transparency and accountability.
This appeal was made during a virtual meeting organised by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) recently where concerns about the lack of access to public information were raised.
Afolabi Oni, Communications Officer at WSCIJ, stressed that both journalists and citizens have the right to request information from public institutions to strengthen democracy and encourage public scrutiny. He revealed that 10 northern states and six southern states are yet to fully embrace the FOI Act.
“Journalists encounter bureaucratic barriers when seeking transparency from the government,” Oni said, urging senior public officials to be more accountable in their responses to the media.
Executive Director of Media Career Development Network (MCDN), Lekan Otufodunrin at the session, highlighted the importance of open access to information for government accountability. He noted that journalists are sometimes wrongly accused of cyberstalking while seeking information.
The former Editor Sunday at the Nation Newspaper, Otufodunrin encouraged journalists to persist in their efforts to obtain information, advising them to avoid rushing to court when responses are delayed.
Publisher of
BONews, Blessing Oladunjoye, also emphasised the need for transparency, stating, “No information should be shrouded in secrecy.”
She urged journalists to continue asking tough questions and consider legal action if denied access to information.
Head of Digital Media, Dare Akogun,
advocated for the effective enforcement of the FOI Act, which was passed into law in 2011. He also called on the government to ensure that rural communities are not excluded from accessing public information, stressing that it is a fundamental right of all citizens.
The meeting, moderated by broadcast journalist Esther Nwankwo, drew over 80 participants, who discussed the challenges journalists face in holding the government accountable and the need for improved access to information.
