NIPC, RMAFC, DBN, top 2024 FoI ranking

The 2024 Freedom of Information Ranking reveals a stark transparency deficit in Nigeria, with only a negligible fraction of government agencies demonstrating proactive disclosure or responsiveness. This systemic opacity severely hinders the availability of public data, leaving citizens and researchers with minimal access to critical information about state operations and fiscal management. Most institutions failed to disclose requested information and missed statutory response deadlines, indicating a cultural and structural resistance to openness. While a select few agencies led the rankings, the overwhelming majority remained non-proactive, suggesting that current legal frameworks are insufficient without robust enforcement and digital modernization of government portals. This assessment is vital for the open data movement as it exposes the gap between policy and practice in public sector transparency. By highlighting specific non-performing sectors like security and judiciary, the ranking provides a roadmap for advocates pushing for mandatory data publication. It underscores the urgent need for improved digital infrastructure and accountability mechanisms to ensure government data is accessible, usable, and truly open to the public.

Source: punchng.com
Published on 2024-10-01