ICIR tasks journalists on utilizing FOI Act

The article highlights the critical role journalists must play in enforcing Nigeria’s Freedom of Information Act to promote transparency and combat corruption. By actively utilizing FOI tools, the media can drive open governance, ensuring citizens have access to essential information for informed decision-making. This shift requires journalists to lead enforcement efforts rather than relying solely on civil society organizations. However, significant implementation challenges persist, including cumbersome bureaucratic processes and insufficient response times from government agencies. While the law allows for exemptions to protect certain sensitive interests, the lack of mandatory proactive disclosure and the absence of sanctions for non-compliance severely hinder its effectiveness. This systemic inertia discourages media outlets from engaging with the act, leaving many institutions unaccountable for hoarding public data. This discourse is vital to open data because it underscores that legislative access alone does not guarantee transparency. Without structural reforms, standardized response templates, and accountability mechanisms, the right to information remains theoretical. True open data ecosystems require not just legal frameworks but also active enforcement, institutional capacity building, and a culture of proactive disclosure to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

Source: quicknews-africa.net
Published on 2025-10-10

ICIR tasks journalists on utilizing FOI Act

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