…access to information, a basic human right – Dr. Ahmed
Lois Otse Adams
The Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dasuki Arabi, has suggested the use of technological innovations such as social media platforms as a means of interaction between public institutions and non-state actors.
Arabi made the submission in his speech at a one-day workshop on the appraisal of Freedom of Information Act 2011 for stakeholders at both federal and state levels at the Federal Ministry of Finance Building, on 28th November, 2022.
The workshop stemmed from the 2018 Impact Assessment Study which observed the low level of compliance, the challenges that undermine the objectives of the FOI policies, steps and reforms that must be taken to arrest any impediments to proper information sharing between public service institutions, private and civil society organizations.
He advised that policies that are updated must be made accessible to the public.
According to him, this is the basic objective on which the BPSR was established and why the agency over the years has maintained a top position in maintaining civil rights in Nigeria.
He stated that in any situation of reform, there are certain issues and factors that play significant roles in determining the success or failure of the implementation process.
“Public Service Reform is a systematic intervention aimed at improving the structure, operations and procedures of the public service to enable its transformation as a multi-facetted agent of change as well as a veritable instrument of national cohesion and socio-economic development,” he stated.
In her opening remarks, the National Coordinator of Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria, Dr. Gloria Ahmed, reiterated that the relevance of making information open to the public must not only be seen as a hallmark of democracy alone but more so, a basic human right.
She explained that the co-creation principle, enable OGP’s engagement with civil societies as it encourages healthy partnership between the leaders and the governed as well as amongst Stakeholders.
She said that since the inception of democratic government after a prolonged period of military rule in the Country which promoted secrecy in governance, the FOI became a very important conversation in the country’s democracy. She stressed that citizens must be given a platform where they can access information as regards government policies and reforms.
In her words, “We recognize that when the government is open to the people, it is much more effective and credible and builds trust in the citizens”
She lamented that despite the beautiful policies, laws and reforms in the country, implementation has remained a basic challenge which can be tackled through the co-creation principle of the OGP which promotes ownership of policies by all stakeholders and partnership in implementation.
“Trust on the sidelines should be built through sensitization and workshops to educate state and non-state actors.
She encouraged more state participation in OGP to enable them be at par with the Federal level in achieving global development goals. She should spoke about the planned advocacy visits to all non OGP States to sensitize them on the benefits of joining the OGP.
While commending the BPSR’s efforts on the impact assessment study held in 2018 and subsequent observations from the study and proposed reforms to mitigate the low level of compliance, she hopes the outcome of the meeting will enrich the reforms and strategies that will be adopted.
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is an international multi-stakeholder, multi -lateral and multi-sectoral partnership whose main objectives include improving transparency, Accountability, and Citizen participation through technology and innovation.
The Federal Ministry of Justice has been on the centre stage of the implementation of
FOIA.
The Attorney General of the Federation has maintained the revised guidelines in the implementation of information and mandated that MDAs submit annual reports in line with section 29 of the FIOA.
Barr. Ayo Bakare, Principal State Counsel to the ministry, explained that other responsibilities the ministry facilitated included prevailing on MDAs to set up FOI units, paying courtesy visits, and rendering legal guidance to MDAs.
He also stated that the justice ministry made reports to the National Assembly since the enactment of the Act from 2011- 2020.
The reports highlighted some challenges they observed in the MDAs such as lack of adequate funding, absence of inclusion of FOI funding in the national budget implementation, Ignorance from implementers of the Act due to lack of training, seminars, workshops, and low response because there is no sanction in the FOIA that can checkmate public servants.
The United Nations declaration of Human Rights in article 1948 gives freedom of expression and access to information, and that includes freedom of the press to have access to information that will help to sustain democracy and good governance.
Tope Fasua, Chief Executive of Global Analytics, Researcher, and Consultant, explained that the result of hoarding information leads to poverty, ignorance, corruption, and bad leadership.
He further elaborated the challenges facing FOI implementation that include poor system of filing, little or no training on how to extract relevant information, and security challenges, especially for classified ones. He recommended that information should be made available in all indigenous languages.
Having reviewed the papers presented to be progressive by Umar Yakubu, Executive Director of Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch, the interactive session after much deliberations, justified the need for the budget implementation on behalf of the FOI through the National Assembly in other to ensure efficiency in outputs, creation of active and functional websites and portals, ensure the MDAs comply with section 2(3) of the Act and most importantly, make public officers responsible and accountable.
During the interactive session, Ahmed opined that the OGP Nigeria secretariat is working earnestly to ensure that fiscal reforms are institutionalized in all tiers of government and assured the BPSR of its continued partnership
In attendance were representatives of the Nigerian military, Civil Society Organizations, media and legal practitioners, members of the MDAs, concerned citizens and other stakeholders.
