By John Okeke
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has said the Federal Government is committed to the implementation of Fredeem of Information Act.
Malami who was represented by Mr Gowon Ichibor, the Head of Freedom of Information Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice said the Act subjects certain records of Public Institutions as well as some Private Institutions to a disclosure regime in line with the ideals of open and transparent government.
He spoke in Abuja while presenting the keynote address on the occasion of the two days workshop for FOI Desk Officers of Public Institutions .
He said the workshop is the establishment of online engagement Forum|Platform with the aim of facilitating learning experience sharing and best practice application in the implementation of freedom of information Act 2011.
Malami reminded the Officers, about the milestone of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, in our National Legislative Agenda which came into force on the 28th day of may 2011.
“The Act has specifically highlighted the fact that access is meaningful exercise for free expression on matters of public or political interest.
” In essence, the Act provides a legal guarantee for access to information and requires public institutions to productively publish certain classes of information as well as to release information upon request.
” Section 29(1) of the Act establishes in the Attorney General of The Federation , oversight organ for monitoring, promoting and protecting the right to access records and information. It also mandated all public institutions to submit to my office on before 1st February of each year, a report on their compliance status.”
” Therefore, it noteworthy that section 29(4) also requires my office to forward the report from all public institutions to the relevant committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives having oversight in the implementation of the Act on or before April 1st of each calendar year. My Office have performed this function for the past 10years, despite the initial challenges associated with the implementation of a new law,” he said.
He also said that the pursuant to the provisions of the Act , the ministry continuously encourages Public to comply with Proactive Disclosure Obligations under Section 2 of the Act .
“It noteworthy that an increasing number of public Institutions have developed platforms for their Proactive Disclosure requirement under the Act,” he said.
He said he was pleased to state that the workshop for the establishment of the FOI online engagement forum/platform towards facilitating shared learning, experience sharing and best practice application will not only help in ensuring the effective implementation of the Act but also improve desk officers’ compliance to their Proactive Disclosure obligation.
He seized the opportunity to thank International Press Council (IPC), Media Right Agenda (MRA) and funding partner European Union for the Initiative to organize this workshop.
He also appreciated their worthy collaboration and looked forward to further engagements designed to improve implementation of the Act, which is crucial tool in our national development effort .
