….as IPC decries implementation gaps
The representative of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Godwin Garuba, an Assistant Director, Federal Ministry of Justice, on Monday acknowledged the impact of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in advancing transparency, accountability, and openness in government operations.
This is as the Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Mr. Lanre Arogundade decried implementation gaps in the Act.
The duo spoke at a Stakeholders’ Technical Meeting on FOI Amendment Bill and Upgrade of Reporting & Compliance Mechanisms.
Mr. Garuba noted that while the FOI Act has significantly contributed to good governance, it is not without its shortcomings and requires improvement to enhance its effectiveness.
He expressed the Minister’s satisfaction with ongoing efforts to review and amend the Act, including a proposed amendment currently before the House of Representatives. These efforts, he said, are essential steps toward strengthening Nigeria’s democratic values and ensuring citizens’ right to access public information.
“I bring you the greeting of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
“You will agree with me that the FOIA has brought in a new culture into the public section that is reforming it positively.
“The Spirit of the Act is to create transparency, accountability and openness in government activities.
“At this time that the Act is going through another process of amendment, we should all come out and proffer solutions to the lacuna found in the Act.”
Garuba further applauded the International Press Centre (IPC) for convening the meeting and providing a platform for meaningful engagement. On behalf of the Minister, he welcomed all participants, expressed gratitude for their presence, and extended best wishes for the success of the deliberations.
In his welcome address, IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade underscored the critical role of access to information in deepening democratic governance and promoting transparency, accountability, and public trust.
He presented two illustrative scenarios that underscore the persistent challenges in the implementation of the FOI Act.
These include active resistance from public institutions and the undue difficulty citizens and journalists face in accessing public information.
Despite the FOI Act being a cornerstone of democratic ideals, he lamented that its enforcement and application remain weak, hindered by systemic non-compliance and legal bottlenecks.
He highlighted the broader democratic principles at stake—freedom of expression, media pluralism, and public accountability—stressing that these values are integral to any thriving democracy.
Referencing a recent summit on reforming Nigeria’s broadcasting legislative framework, Mr. Arogundade emphasized the urgency of aligning Nigeria’s information and media laws with international best practices.
Under the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EUSGDN) program, IPC has worked closely with media professionals, regulators, and civil society organizations across the country. These engagements have revealed how poor access to information negatively impacts journalistic reporting, weakens public accountability, and erodes trust in governance.
The current session, he explained, is aimed at promoting the effective use of the FOI Act and addressing key implementation challenges such as:
Public institutions ignoring FOI requests;
Absence of sanctions for non-compliance;
Citizens having to pursue costly litigation for basic information;
Some state governments outrightly disregard the FOI Act, despite Supreme Court rulings affirming its applicability.
Mr. Arogundade called on lawmakers and stakeholders involved in the ongoing legislative review to strengthen the FOI Act rather than dilute its provisions. He stressed the need for reforms that encourage compliance, ensure enforcement, and create an enabling environment for transparency.
He reiterated that access to information is a constitutional right, not a privilege. Highlighting the systemic gaps in implementation, he noted:
Many MDAs fail to submit annual FOI compliance reports;
Absence of designated FOI desk officers; Zero or inadequate budgetary allocations for FOI implementation.
Calling for a national recommitment to transparency, accountability, and compliance with the FOI law, Mr. Arogundade acknowledged the support of partner organizations including the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), IAPA Africa, and the European Union.
He also urged all participants to “speak truthfully, listen respectfully, and act boldly” to protect and reform the FOI regime. The objective of the meeting, he affirmed, is to produce a strong position paper and actionable recommendations that will guide future advocacy and legislative engagement.
The technical session is part of efforts to safeguard and strengthen the FOI regime by IPC, in collaboration with PLAC and YIAGA Africa, under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, Phase II (EU-SDGN II) programme.
IPC, Lagos-Nigeria, co-implementing partner of component 4 (Support to media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria’s Phase 2 (EU-SDGNII) programme.
The goal of the session is to critically review the FOI Amendment Bill and develop a Position Paper that reflects the voices, concerns, and recommendations of key stakeholders in the media, legal, civil society, and governance sectors within the overall context of ensuring effective reporting and compliance processes.
No fewer than 25 select participants, made up of representatives of the FOI unit, Federal Ministry of Justice, media/CSOs stakeholders, etc were at attendance.
The overarching aim is to galvanise stakeholders’ interest in engaging the bill amendment process to enhance the effectiveness of the FOI Act.
