From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has convened a stakeholders’ meeting to strategize on the effective implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement by the ANEEJ and made available to the media in Kaduna today, Thursday.
The statement said that the meeting is part of the Civil Society Advocacy to Strengthen Anti-Corruption Reforms in Nigeria (CASARN) project, which aims to contribute to reducing corruption in Nigeria through civil society advocacy.
The Deputy Executive Director of ANEEJ, Mr. Leo Atakpu, explained that the CASARN project is being implemented in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme, which is funded by the European Union (EU).
He noted that the project focuses on strengthening anti-corruption reforms by assessing the management framework and effectiveness of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) in federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), promoting MDAs’ compliance with open contracting, and advocating for the passage of the whistleblower protection bill.
Atakpu highlighted the challenges that have hindered the effective implementation of the FOI Act, including a culture of secrecy in public institutions, poor record-keeping, limited citizen awareness, and weak enforcement.
However, he noted that the recent landmark ruling by the Supreme Court affirming that the FOI Act applies to all tiers of government, including states and local governments, provides a renewed legal foundation for the implementation of the Act.
The meeting aims to build consensus, deepen awareness, and collectively shape a pathway for the full implementation of the FOI Act at the subnational level.
Atakpu emphasized that the interactions during the meeting will provide rich insights and actionable recommendations that will promote the application of the FOI Act in Edo State.
The ANEEJ official expressed gratitude to the European Union and International IDEA for supporting the project and called for continued collaboration and support to achieve the project’s goals.
The meeting is a strategic platform to forge constructive engagement with key government institutions and promote transparency and accountability in governance.
