Media Rights Agenda and International Press Centre Demand Sanctions Against Violating Officials
Two major Nigerian media watchdog groups, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the International Press Centre (IPC), have called for sanctions against public officials who consistently violate Nigeria's Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, according to a recent Punch Nigeria report.
Background on Nigeria's FOI Act
- Nigeria's FOI Act aims to promote transparency in government activities
- Enables citizens to access government information for accountability and decision-making purposes
- The act came into force on May 5, 2019, following a long struggle by media rights groups and civil society organizations
MRA and IPC's Call for Action
MRA and IPC argue that erring officials are undermining the spirit of the FOI Act by withholding or providing incomplete information to the public.
In an interview with Punch Nigeria, IPC's Executive Director, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, stated:
"Public officials who refuse to comply with the FOI Act are not only undermining the Act but also damaging the country's democratic development."
MRA's Director-General, Mr. John Momoh, emphasized the need for sanctions to serve as a deterrent to officials who breach the Act:
"Sanctions should serve as a strong warning to other officials who may attempt to undermine the Act's objective."
Government's Response
However, there is no information available regarding the Nigerian government's response to the watchdog groups' call for action.
</body> </html><small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>