Group lauds Senate’s adoption of FOI bill

By Tobi Soniyi

The Punch: Monday, 20 November 2006

The Open Society Justice Initiative has commended the Senate for passing the Freedom of Information Bill and urged President Olusegun Obasanjo to sign it into law quickly.

The bill, if it becomes law, will guarantee Nigerian citizens the right to access government information. Nigeria is set to become just the fourth African nation with a freedom of information law, following South Africa, Uganda and Angola.

”This is an important step for Nigeria,” said Maxwell Kadiri, junior legal officer with the Justice Initiative‘s Abuja office.

”If and when the bill becomes law, it will encourage transparency and increase public participation in the democratic process,” he added.

The bill, adopted unanimously by the Senate earlier last week, had been pending in Parliament since 1999.

The House of Representatives had approved it in 2004.

The House and Senate versions of the bill are very similar but must still be reconciled and then either signed by President Obasanjo or approved by two-thirds of parliament to become law.

Advocates expressed hopes that this could happen before the parliament‘s recess in December.

OSJI described the bill‘s passage as ”a significant victory for Nigeria‘s freedom of information advocates who have championed its passage for over six years.

”It is also an impetus for other African nations to enact similar laws, and for those nations that already have FOI laws to enforce them more vigorously.”

Kadiri said, ”The Nigerian people have waited a long time for this bill to be passed.

”Its unanimous approval shows that the Senate understands the bill‘s importance. We are gratified by President Obasanjo‘s remarks welcoming the bill‘s adoption, and look forward to his signing it into law at the earliest possible opportunity.”