FOI Act faces critical test as IPC, stakeholders demand stronger enforcement

The Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Mr Lanre Arogundade, has emphasised the urgent need to reflect on the current state and future of the FOI regime in Nigeria.

Arogundade, who decried the implementation gaps of the FOI, stated this while giving his welcome remarks at the Stakeholders’ Technical Meeting on the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act tagged “FOI Act Amendment Bills and Advancing Reporting and Compliance Standards”, which was held at the BON Hotel, Abuja on Monday.

Highlighting the critical role of access to information in deepening democratic governance and promoting transparency, accountability and public trust, he presented two illustrative scenarios that underscored the persistent challenges in the implementation of the FOI Act.

These include active resistance from public institutions and the undue difficulty citizens and journalists face in accessing public information despite the FOI Act being a cornerstone of democratic ideal lamenting its enforcement and application remain weak, hindered by systemic non-compliance and legal bottlenecks.

He highlighted the broader democratic principles at stake, freedom of expression, media pluralism, and public accountability, stressing that these values are integral to any thriving democracy.

Referencing a recent summit on reforming Nigeria’s broadcasting legislative framework, Arogundade emphasised the urgency of aligning Nigeria’s information and media laws with international best practices.

The session, he explained, is aimed at promoting the effective use of the FOI Act and addressing key implementation challenges such as, public institutions ignoring FOI requests, absence of sanctions for non-compliance, citizens having to pursue costly litigation for basic information; some state governments outrightly disregard the FOI Act, despite Supreme Court rulings affirming its applicability.

He urged lawmakers and stakeholders involved in the ongoing legislative review to strengthen the FOI Act rather than dilute its provisions calling for reforms that encourage compliance, ensure enforcement, and create an enabling environment for transparency.

While calling every participant to “speak truthfully, listen respectfully and act boldly” to protect and reform the FOI regime, Arogundade underscored the need for a national recommitment to transparency, accountability, and compliance with the FOI law, acknowledging the support of partner organizations including the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), IAPA Africa, and the European Union.

The Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) Clement Nwankwo represented by its program manager, Nkiru Nzodi, commended IPC for convening the forum at such a critical time in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

She highlighted the importance of reviewing the legislative framework that governs access to public information with deliberate care and in the best interest of the public.

She noted that while the FOI Act has made significant contributions to promoting transparency and accountability in governance, it has also revealed implementation gaps, including low compliance by public institutions and weak enforcement mechanisms.

Highlighting the urgency of preserving the progress made under the FOI regime, she called for discussions around the proposed amendments to be guided by three key principles; preserving the spirit of the FOI Act ensuring that any legislative review does not roll back the gains made in transparency and the public’s right to know, strengthening enforcement and accountability mechanisms improving oversight to ensure public institutions comply with the law and ensuring inclusive stakeholder engagement involving civil society, media, legal experts, and citizens in shaping the future of the Act.

The Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mr. Edetaen Ojo, presented a comprehensive overview of Nigeria’s FOI Act, identifying critical gaps and proposing areas for legislative amendment to strengthen enforcement and improve compliance by public institutions.

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