Freedom of Information Bill: Need to Ensure Speedy Passage

The Freedom of Information Coalition (FOI Coalition) welcomes the fact that the third reading of the Freedom of Information Bill is scheduled for Wednesday, December 14, 2005. We are encouraged by the commitment of the Senate to ensuring a speedy passage of the Bill. This is indeed, a mark of legislative responsiveness to public interest.

It is encouraging to note that the National Assembly, realizing the importance of this Bill in its effort to ensure good governance in the nation, is going a step further to ensure its passage into Law.

The benefit of this Bill to Nigeria and Nigerians is immeasurable, especially as it would aid the lawmakers’ legislative interventions in the political and economic agendas of the present democratic regime.

The FOI Coalition acknowledges the support of the National Assembly for efforts aimed at ensuring fiscal discipline, transparency in governance, reforming public procurement process, economic empowerment through NEEDS and sanitizing of all major economic sectors, including Education, Aviation, Power, Oil and Gas. These reforms can however become more effective and lasting when they are owned by the people through access to information.

The FOI Coalition therefore calls on the Senate to, as a matter of urgency and in the interest of the nation’s development and good governance, ensure the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill within the shortest possible time. 

Signed by the under listed organizations, members of the FOI Coalition:

Media Rights Agenda (MRA)

International Press Centre (IPC)

Concerned Professionals (CP)

Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE)

Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC)

Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC)

Lawyers Alert

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS)

Centre for Human Rights in Islam (CHRI)

Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP)