'Be Ready To Account For Spending' – Civic Group ENetSuD Warns Kwara Government, Hails Supreme Court Ruling Affirming FOI Act

A Nigerian civil society organization welcomes a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming that the Freedom of Information Act applies to state governments. This decision effectively nullifies years of resistance by local authorities who claimed the law was inapplicable without domestication, marking a decisive victory for transparency advocates. The ruling dismantles allegations of deliberate stalling by both the executive and legislative branches to evade public scrutiny. The primary implication is the restoration of citizens' legal right to access vital information regarding government projects and expenditures. Previously hindered by bureaucratic obstacles, activists now possess a clear legal foundation to demand accountability for how public funds are managed. This shift underscores that while collaborative mechanisms like social audits are valuable, legally guaranteed access to information remains the essential cornerstone of public accountability and open governance. This development is highly relevant to open data because it establishes a binding legal precedent for sub-national transparency across the federation. It empowers citizens and watchdogs to actively request and verify government spending data, transforming opaque administrative practices into auditable public records. Consequently, this ruling sets a powerful example for other states to adopt similar transparency measures, fostering a culture where data openness is a legal mandate rather than a discretionary privilege.

Source: saharareporters.com
Published on 2025-04-13

'Be Ready To Account For Spending' – Civic Group ENetSuD Warns Kwara Government, Hails Supreme Court Ruling Affirming FOI Act

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