Fears that the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI), might go the way of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the first elected president after years of military rule, who refused to sign the bill into law in 2007 was put to rest yesterday.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Director (Information) in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Justin Abuah, the Bill which was passed by the outgoing National Assembly was conveyed to the Presidency on Friday, May 27, 2011. President Goodluck Jonathan assented to it on Saturday, May 28.
The objective of the Act is to make public records and information more freely available, and to also protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy.
The Freedom of Information Act also seeks to protect serving public officers from any adverse consequences of disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorisation, and to establish procedures for the achievement of these purposes.
Meanwhile the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has lauded President Jonathan for assenting to the Bill. According to a statement signed by its president, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, the NGE said the President has more than anyone else empowered the citizens to participate in the governance of their own affair.
“President Jonathan had, during the last Presidential debate, made a pubic commitment to sign the FOI bill into law once presented to him by the National Assembly as a personal commitment to openness, transparency, accountability and good governance. President Jonathan has really started well with this sign-post for good governance.
“By signing the FOI bill into law, the President has more than anyone else empowered the citizens to participate in the governance of their own affairs. The people can now legitimately seek public information, corroborate their facts and make useful suggestions towards achieving greater good for the majority.
With access to information, citizens can fight corruption and closet government and confront the few who misappropriate our resources to themselves alone “For the media, the signing of the FOI law has expanded the frontiers of press freedom for Africa’s most vibrant press. No more will it be permitted for the journalists to hurry to press with half truth and misinformation when they can officially verify their facts.”
While the NGE congratulated every Nigerian for this all important citizens’ law and commended the out-going National Assembly for freeing the democratic space for citizens’ involvement in our democratic adventure, it called on everyone to use the law, responsibly.
Senator Smart Adeyemi also lauded President Jonathan for signing the Bill into law.
“l congratulate the media practitioners and the whole country as the new law will make the policies and spending of government open for the people to see and thereby minimize corruption.
“Besides it is also good for the socio-economic and political emancipation of the country. l commend the President for signing the bill that was passed and brought to him on Thursday last week,” he said.
The former NUJ National President however advised President Goodluck Jonathan to establish a special court which would try public officers that are found to be corrupt as a way of giving the bill a smooth operation.
Also, the Freedom of Information (FOI) Coalition comprising about 150 civil society organizations and professional groups welcomed the signing into law of the Freedom of Information Bill.
The body called on all such groups especially the media and the civil society to brace up to use the instrumentality of the FOI to hold the recently elected politicians accountable for their promises.
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