Senate passes Freedom of Information Bill

By Aliyu Abubakar

Daily Trust, November 16, 2006

 Nigerians will now have the right to access public records and other information more freely as the Senate yesterday passed into law, the Freedom of Information Bill.

The 35-clause Bill which has been a subject of controversy since the last National Assembly, was yesterday read for the third time and considered clause by clause in the Senate before being passed into law.

Opponents from within government institutions, agencies and commissions had feared the Bill will expose government’s documents and thus may not protect national interest.

The Bill was essentially a House Bill whose documents the Senate worked with, Senate’s spokesman, Victor Ndoma-Egba, said.

He said the passage will see Nigerians “getting involved in public discourse, formulation and administration of policy”.

It will also promote accountability by public officers as well as facilitate government’s anti-corruption efforts”, Ndoma-Egba said.

He said the bill will impact directly on the Official Secrets Act because “its principle hinges on the general declassification of public information that we believe have to be protected.

He said:  “The bill basically operates on the three principles of declassification of public information; right of access to public information and the principle of maximum disclosure.

He disclosed that there was no major amendment to the bill except for the criminalizing of the falsification or destruction of official records just because somebody has asked for them.

Under the Bill, members of the public will be able to apply for access to government records.

The Bill however gives government or public institutions the right to refuse  disclosure of any record which contains materials such as text questions, examination data, plans for building not constructed with public funds and any other document that will “compromise security.”