Nigeria has a population of 3 million, a landmass of 923,768km2, a bountiful endowment in arable land, solid minerals and petroleumgas resources. Centrelink, defence force ombudsman, australia post etc. The act defines agency records subject to disclosure, outlines mandatory disclosure procedures, and defines nine exemptions to the statute. According to akpodiete 2012 freedom of information act comprises laws that guarantee access to data held by.
Mil, freedom of information act foia and film industry. Freedom of information bill frequently asked questions subject to the provisions of this act but notwithstanding anything contained in any other act, law or regulation, every citizen of the federal republic of nigeria. Freedom of information bill passed by the national assembly, one of his major excuses was that it would undermine nigerias national security, especially in the light of the fact that a decision by the head of a public institution to deny access to information would be subject to. Freedom of information act applicable to all state in nigeria. Ajimobi disowns freedom of information foi act in oyo state a lawyers explanation of the freedom of information act 2011 1 2 reply go down the freedom of information foi act 2011. The act affords everyone regardless of tribe, age, creed, a right of access to information or records held by public institutions and relevant private entities, irrespective of the form in which such information or records are kept. Nigerias unhealthy domestic policy environment has narrowed down the menu of policy choices at the multilateral level. The denial of a fee category claim by a requester, the denial of a request for waiver or reduction of fees, and a dispute regarding fee estimates. How to make a freedom of information request in nigeria.
Nigerian president signs freedom of information bill. Malgwi2, bulama kagu3 and ibrahim danjuma4 1 department of business management, university of maiduguri nigeria 2 bursary department, university of maiduguri, 3department of education, university of maiduguri, 4faculty of management and human resource. The central bank also recently announced her intentions to sell treasury bills worth about n142. Primacy is granted to the provisions of the freedom of information act in instances of conflict with other laws. Section 12 subsections 1 to 5, cbn act of 2007 ammended. They establish a righttoknow legal process by which requests may be made for governmentheld information, to be. Aug 15, 2016 something exciting is brewing in nigeria. There is jubilation in nigeria this weekend about the freedom of information bill past this last week in abuja. The nigerian freedom of information bill was along awaited bill which was finally signed into law. Article 19 welcomes the adoption of the freedom of information act in nigeria in may 2011. Freedom of information act and democratic consolidation in.
Freedom of information laws allow access by the general public to data held by national governments. Short title page 19 nigerian communications act, 2003 a287a 349 printed and published by the federal government printer, lagos, nigeria. You can formally request access under the freedom of information act 1982 foi act to documents we hold. If you would like to make a freedom of information request from any public institution in nigeria, you may use the template which we at lawpadi created foi request template. The question still is how free is the freedom of information act 2011 and what are its. The oco receives foi requests for a wide range of documents, however, the two main requests are. The limit of information act in freedom of information act 2011 and the fight against corruption and corporate fraud in governance. After more than a decade of being debated but what is this freedom of information bill. The legal backing for monetary policy by the bank derives from the various statutes of the bank such as the cbn act of 1958 as amended in cbn decree no. Pdf freedom of information foi refers to the right which citizens in a. The freedom of information act the freedom of information act foia generally provides that any person has the right to request access to federal agency records or information except to the extent the records are protected from disclosure by any of nine exemptions contained in the law or by one of three special law enforcement record exclusions. Nigeriaworld feature article freedom of information bill. In the first week of february 2017, the interest rates on 364 days treasury bills were reported to be as high as 22%. Challenges that are confronting the implementation of the act are.
The freedom of information bill that finally emerged in nigeria is one of the best in the world, according to a key figure in the successful campaign for a foi law in nigeria. With the coming into force of the act, every person now has a legal right of. Jun 03, 2011 nigerian president goodluck jonathan has signed a freedom information bill. Foi means having access to government data, information, records, files, documents in any form. Nigerian president goodluck jonathan has signed a freedom information bill. Nigeria foi was enacted in 2011, foi is an act to make public records and information more freely available, provide for public access to public records and information, protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy, protect serving public officers from adverse consequences of disclosing certain kinds of official. Freedom of information act a ray of hope for democracy. Abstract freedom of information foi refers to the right which citizens in a society are expected to have to access information held by government institutions and officials. Whereas one is faster and defies boundaries, they all have the same sense of mission. Dogora, yakubu 2010, a bill for an act to provide for personal data protection to regulate the processing of information n relating to individuals, including the obtaining, holding, use or. Welcome to the home page of the freedom of information. Welcome to the home page of the freedom of information coalition foic nigeria. Files containing applications for any contract, permit, grants or agreements.
The bill was introduced in the house of representatives on june 2, 2016 by umar buba jibril, a lawmaker from kogi state, elected on the platform of the all progressives congress apc. Nigeria freedom of information act 2011 and its implication ipedr. It may interest you to know that nigeria is one of the six greatest oil producers in opec, but the state of the domestic economy and prevailing social conditions are not desirable. Memorandum on the freedom of information bill commonwealth. You can find information about all of these topics and more in the central intelligence agency cia freedom of information act foia electronic reading room. Prospects and challenges preye kuro inokoba department of political science niger delta university, p. Cia annual foia reports updated april 22, 2019 the cia foia annual report is now available in pdf, and in machinereadable xml formats. Going by the foi act, i am entitled to the information and i demand it. Extension of time limit for granting or refusing application 7. It also took the bill three journeys to the national assembly. Commencement be it enacted by the national assembly of the federal republic of nigeria as follows. In nigeria, signing into law of the freedom of information act confers on journalists old and new the same umbrage to operate whatever controversy between the old and new is insignificant because they are complementary.
Not providing a response determination to a foia request within the statutory time limits. It may also involve access by individuals to files containing information about. Freedom of information act foia freedom of information act is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government. Mil, freedom of information act foia and film industry in nigeria. A search of files failed to identify responsive records. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in. Abstract the right of members of the public to access information held by public institutions is a fundamental prerequisite for the enthronement of good governance and the consolidation of democratic norms and practices. Central bank of nigeria freedom of information office.
Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria 1. It is an act for accessing public information to service the peoples right to know. The freedom of information act was enacted a few years ago, to. Pdf freedom of information in nigeria chukwudi ezeukwu. In the event of the failure of the states to adopt or enact a freedom of information legislation, the act should be made applicable to them in order to achieve its purpose throughout the country. Freedom of information is a global phenomenon these days. The need for a nigeria freedom of information act foia had been emphasized by many media scholars. We make a range of documents available for public access. Nigeria freedom of information act 2011 and its implication. Index termsfreedom, information, records, office security management. Freedom of information act, 2011 arrangement of sections section.
The irs foia guide describes the freedom of information act foia in general and gives specific instructions for making a foia request, including a sample letter, an explanation of potential fees and where to file requests. All documents on file in relation to a complaint for example. Meanwhile, notable nigerians and groups have applauded the president for signing the bill into law. The nigerian freedom of information bill was along awaited bill which was finally signed. The foia in nigeria has been greeted by many proponents of the law as a step in the right direction. Freedom of information act electronic reading room cia. Evaluative study of the freedom of information act on. Under freedom of information foi you have a right, with limited exceptions, to access documents we hold. The nigerian freedom of information foi act and the right to. Freedom of information act foia the freedom of information act is a legal extension of the constitutional provisions on freedom of expression designed partly to give practical expression to that provision. For the enactment of new tcpdf encoding freedom of information act. Freedom of information act united states wikipedia. Nigeria introduction this statement provides an overview of recent developments affecting prospects for greater freedom of information and expression in nigeria ahead of general elections scheduled for april 2007. Nigeria and move it towards the part of economic and social transformation.
This was because the bill empowers nigerians to ask critical questions and demand critical documents or information. The freedom of information act, or foia, was signed into law by president lyndon johnson in 1966, giving the public the right to access records from any. After a decade of consistent and fearless advocacy by civil society and media practitioners, the newly elected president of nigeria, goodluck jonathan, has acceded to the legitimate demands and aspirations of the majority of nigerians by signing off the longawaited right to information law. The obama administration pursued a crackdown on federal officials who leaked information to the press, while many journalists chafed at what they regarded as excessive efforts to control access to the obama white house. Nigeria freedom of information act, 2011 and discusses the progress that has been made so far. The paper revealed the genesis of freedom of information foi bill in nigeria and the organizations instrumental to its enactment. A bill was passed by both chambers in the first quarter of 2007, but was vetoed by president olusegun obasanjo.
The government of the time considered such a bill dangerous for a number of. In 2016, freedom house saw a slight decline in press. Freedom of information act central bank of nigeria. Pdf this study appraises the freedom of information act in nigeria. Nigeria freedom of information act 2011 and its implication for records and office security management ayuba a. The federal republic of nigerias freedom of information bill hb22. Enacted by the national assembly of the federal republic of nigeria. The bill was presented initially in 1999 when the return to democratic governance heightened the expectation that there will be increased disposition towards freer. Freedom of information bill frequently asked questions subject to the provisions of this act but notwithstanding anything contained in any other act, law or regulation, every citizen of the federal republic of nigeria, has a legally enforceable right to, and shall, on application be given access to any record under the control of a. The national assembly should enact or guarantee the press and members of the public the right of access to governmentheld. Concluded that the freedom of information act has made records or. A consolidation process largely expected as a formality to finalise the. Right to access to records the act indicated that every citizen of nigeria is entitled to have access to any records under the control of the government or public institution provided he apply for and.
Freedom of information or information freedom also refers to the protection of the right to freedom of expression with regard to the internet and information technology. The idea of a freedom of information law for nigeria. Freedom of information may also concern censorship in an information technology context, i. Pdf an appraisal of the freedom of information act foia in nigeria. Federal republic of nigeria, was signed into law on 28th may. The emergence of freedom of information legislation was a response to increasing dissatisfaction with the secrecy surrounding government policy development and decision making. How to invest in treasury bills in nigeria information. International foi laws national freedom of information coalition. After a decade of consistent and fearless advocacy by civil society and media practitioners, the newly elected president of. Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria. Nigerias freedom of information bill and national development jonathan chima ogugua federal university of technology, owerri, nigeria email.
Apr, 2018 freedom of information act applicable to all state in nigeria, appeal court rules nigerian states have no powers to reject requests filed under the freedom of information act foi, the court of. The presidents signature may 28 came 11 years after a foi bill was first submitted to nigerias 4th national assembly in 1999. Additional information if you need extra space to provide any additional information within this request, use the space below. Analysis of nigeria freedom of information act on records. Review of relevant information on nigerias democracyfactsheet july, 2017 objective of the bill.
At last, jonathan signs foi bill into law vanguard news. Edetaen ojo, executive director of media rights agenda, gave an extensive interview to the. The freedom of information act 2011 foi what it means. Extension oftime limit for granting or refusing application. The objective of the bill is to establish a body the commission responsible for the supervision, coordination and monitoring of nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations in nigeria, with the aim of enabling them accomplish their. Introduction the long awaited freedom of information bill has gained approval by the national assembly and assented by mr. Type or print the subject of records name and his or. Nigeria is a famous country with more than one hundred and forty million population. Freedom of information act 2011 laws of the federation of nigeria arrangement of sections 1. It took well over ten years to pass the freedom of information bill into law in nigeria. Freedom of information act and democratic consolidation in nigeria.
Just coming from a period that saw national outcry against the frivolous petitions bill, popularly known as the antisocial media bill, and the. Media practitioners believe that the freedom of information, as a communication phenomenon will play an essential role in placing nigeria on the right track of development. Accordingly, the right of access of official information, which the bill grants will be legally enforceable. Nigeria freedom of information act, 2011 and discusses the progress that has. The freedom of information act foia is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government. Freedom of information act foi, foi coalition, nigeria, nigerian press. Analysis of nigeria freedom of information act on records and. Freedom of info around the world national democratic institute.
This means that some mischievous public officers can. The presidents signature may 28 came 11 years after a foi bill was first submitted to nigeria s 4th national assembly in 1999. Nigerian content development bill 2005a bill to make provi. Freedom of information act foia guidelines internal. In nigeria, the case is different as the freedom of information act, according to ogbuokiri 2011, contains more exemption sections and clauses than sections that grant access to information.
Jun 01, 2011 the signing of the bill into law raises nigerias integrity in the comity of nations. The freedom of information foi act signed into law on may 28, 2011 is an act that gives every nigerian a legal right of access to information, records, and documents held by government bodies and private bodies carrying out public functions. N 4 nnamdi azikiwe library university of nigeria nsukka. Pdf an appraisal of the freedom of information act foia. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. The nigerian freedom of information bill was along awaited bill which was finally. An act to make public records and information more freely available, provide for.
I was in india recently and had to visit a government department in goa. Freedom of information bill in nigeria for over eight years, the protagonists of the freedom of information bill have been toiling to get it passed at the national assembly. The nigerian house of representatives and senate both passed a freedom of information bill foib in august 2004 and november 2006. The nigerian house of representatives and senate both passed a freedom of information bill foib in august 2004 and november 2006 respectively. It also mandates organizations to preserve its information in such manner that will enhance access to it. Nigeria has the appropriate credentials for greatness. Malawi, montenegro, mozambique, namibia, nepal, nicaragua, nigeria, papua new. So far, only few states in nigeria have adopted the freedom of information act at state level.
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