ACQUAINT YOURSELVES WITH FOI ACT — AGF TELLS ANAMBRA RESIDENTS
REPORTER: PAMELA IGWE
Some interest groups and concerned individuals in Anambra State have advocated series of training targeted at educating the people on the Freedom of Information Act.
They made the call at a town hall meeting on the application of Freedom of Information Act, (FOIA), organized by the Center for Transparency Advocacy in collaboration with Ministry of Justice in Awka, Anambra State.
They also called for greater media engagement for effective communication at the grassroots.
Addressing the participants, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, represented by Head of FOI Unit at the ministry, Mr. Godwin Garuba, implored everyone to acquaint themselves with FOI Act, which upholds their right to know what the government is doing.
Chief Fagbemi described intentional denial of information to any Nigerian who seeks them as an offence which attracts a minimum of one year imprisonment.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Anambra State, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, said FOI is a tool for questioning government activities and not to attack government.
He, however, pointed out that classified information is exempted from the Act.
In an address of welcome, the Executive Director, Center for Transparency Advocacy, (CTA), Ms. Faith Nwadishi, expressed regret on the low awareness level about FOI since it was enacted in 2011.
According to Ms. Nwadishi, access to information helps citizens to better understand government policies and decisions.
The Chairman, Disability Rights Commission, Anambra State, Mr. Chuks Ezewuzie, explained that PWDs, found it difficult to access information, complaining they were often marginalized.
He condemned situations where government executed many projects on their behalf without knowing how many PWDs would benefit.
The Director, National Orientation Agency, in Anambra State, Mr. Ignatius Obalum, revealed that they had mounted a sensitization in rural areas about the Freedom of information Act to increase their knowledge of the law.
The Vice President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ South-East, Comrade Emma Ifesinachi, and the Chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ), Ms. Tochukwu Ifejika, appealed to the Anambra State Government to domesticate the Act.
Over 60 persons from different local government areas, NGOs and the academia, attended the meeting.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
