Board directs NABTEB registrar to comply with FOI Act

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) says it has nothing to hide as a responsible examination body.

Its newly inaugurated governing board chairman, Professor Leonard Karshima Shilgba, has, therefore, urged the registrar to fully comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act) any time the request is made for information on the agency’s activities.

Professor Shilgba also affirmed the board’s readiness to partner with the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) to ensure that the examinations body fulfills its constitutional mandate fully, uncompromisingly, and faithfully.

According to his media and publicity consultant, Mr Tom Chiahemen, Shilgba made the comments while responding to a press statement entitled ‘MRA Confers NABTEB with FOI ‘Hall of Shame’ Award for Violating Its Obligations under FOI Act’.

He disclosed that the governing board had already directed the registrar of NABTEB to promptly make available the requested information, and report back to the chairman.

Shilgba noted that even before the MRA press release, he had, hours after the inauguration of the governing board on Thursday, March 22, 2018, already demanded for many and more of the pieces of information requested by MRA.

“In the new spirit of transparency and accountability, which the Buhari government embraces, the new (9th) governing board of NABTEB has instituted a whistle-blower policy, which was announced by the chairman on Thursday, April 26, 2018, during the maiden working visit by the governing board at the national headquarters of NABTEB in Benin City,” he added.

He also called on MRA to partner with NABTEB to enforce its broad mandate, which, according to him, is being encroached upon by certain agencies and organisations.

“This is very important, even as MRA itself acknowledges the significant role NABTEB should play in national development. This role will be felt by all Nigerians very soon, with the unyielding support by organisations and bodies such as MRA,” Shilgba said.

While apologizing for its failings of the past, NABTEB Chairman, however, expressed the hope that with the steps being taken to open up the examinations body to the public and fulfill its broad mandate, “NABTEB’s award by MRA by 2019 will be one we shall be proud of, and not ashamed of.”