By Mike ALADENIKA,
Following the perceived non-readiness of Edo state government to domesticate the Freedom of Information Act(FOI, ACT) with a view to avail citizens the opportunity to access relevant public information from government and it's agencies, a frontline Nigerian Civil society/ Non-governmental organisation,
Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, has called on Edo state government to, as a matter of urgency, set up machinery to domesticate the FOI ACT in Edo state.
Addressing Newsmen in Benin City, Friday, the Executive Director, ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor said "it is very important at this point to encourage, as well as task the Godwin Obaseki led government in Edo state to do the needful by finally domesticating the law, "as critical stakeholders in our quest to enhance citizens access to information in Edo State."
Rev Ugolor who was represented by the Programme Manager, ANEEJ, Innocent Edemhanrie said, "If States have their own FOI law, it will also bring to an end the raging controversy about the applicability of FOI Act at State levels where several groups both within and outside Edo State are now in court."
"Advocacy effort in this regard has, so far, paid off in Ekiti and Imo States, where the governors have enacted their own state FOI laws. The effort to get other State governors to take the same step has continued till date as ANEEJ is currently working with Gatefield and other organizations under the “Keep it Open” cluster program to advocate for the passage of FOI law in Edo, Kaduna and Adamawa States.
ANEEJ explained further that "the 'Keep it Open' cluster program is part of the SCALE (Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement) project, currently being implemented by Palladium with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
"The goal is to democratize the civic space and foster an enabling environment for civic space/digital rights in Nigeria by advocating for enabling laws, policies and regulations within the civic space for digital rights and freedom of information."
"Through the 'keep it open' program, we are focusing on advocating for the adoption of laws and executive actions that protect the civic space notably : Passage of the digital rights and freedom bill into law at the national level, Domestication of Freedom of Information Act at the subnational level in Edo, Kaduna and Adamawa States.
ANEEJ however noted with Interest that "during the first tenure of Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki as governor of Edo State, a draft Edo State FOI bill was prepared by the legal drafting team of Edo State Ministry of Justice. The draft Edo State FOI Bill has also been subjected to consultation with stakeholders including Civil Society Organisations under the Open Government Partnership (OGP) framework. But since the governor’s second term in office, work on the draft bill has not been taken forward. We have had engagement meetings with some stakeholders both state and none state actors to join us in this advocacy effort, we will sustain such advocacy efforts and engage more stakeholders to support our advocacy issues."
"Thus the need to draw the attention of His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, Edo State governor, to the draft Edo State FOI Bill and appeal to the governor to revisit the draft bill and present the bill to Edo State House of Assembly as an Executive Bill for consideration."
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