|
Governor,
Information Managers, call for Speedy Passage of FOI Bill
The Freedom of Information Bill continues to receive widespread support
with the call by the Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang and the heads of
information and communications machinery from the 36 states of the
federation and the Federal Capital Territory calling for its speedy
passage) into law as they believe it would enhance quality service
delivery in information and communications management with its
multiplier effect on the country's emerging democracy.
The 38th National Council on Information and Communication (NCIC) which
took place in Jos, the Plateau State capital in North central Nigeria
with the theme, “Information and Communication Management Strategies for
fostering quality service and Democracy in Nigeria” was aimed at finding
ways of providing the citizenry with credible and timely information on
government activities, programmes and initiatives while creating an
enabling technological environment for socio-economic development of the
nation.
Governor Jang said the quick passage of the Freedom of Information Bill
currently before the National Assembly will further enhance the practice
of journalism in the country. He stressed that: "availability and
accessibility to information is a sine qua non for good decision making.
”An
uninformed society is a deformed one, denial of access to information is
the same as giving the society a blackout and it is hoped that our
efforts in the long run battle to liberalize sources of information will
be to the benefit of our burgeoning democracy."
He noted
that the Nigerian media, over the years have performed creditably as
defenders of democratic ideals and upholders of their professional
tenets, adding that media practitioners in the country face numerous
challenges which when addressed, would propel them to higher pedestals.
Mr. John
Odey, Minister of Information and Communications, while declaring open
the meeting disclosed that a new National Policy on Information would
soon be formulated to drive the information and communications sector in
line with global perspective and national objectives. He said the new
policy would ensure that there is sustenance of democratization process
in the country through enhanced popular participation in good governance
as well as guarantee universal access to information ad modern day
communications systems so as to engender freedom of expression and
exchange of information that would lead to social integration, enhanced
cultural promotion as well as preserve the unity in diversity of the
country.
Prince
Tony Momoh, former Editor of Daily Times and an ex- Minister of
Information and Culture, in a paper entitled, “Public Communication for
Effective Social Mobilization”, said that he had not been excited by the
Freedom of Information Bill debate because people do not really know
that in media practice worldwide, freedom is never given, rather, it is
taken.
He
stressed that the passing of FOI Bill will not reduce the resistance of
government to protect information in its custody for which it has a
constitutional backing, nor will refusing to pass the bill stop an
enterprising media from accessing information that government has.
Momoh
stated that the preoccupation with managing access to information is
ill-advised if it is based on a law that has not seen the light of the
day, pointing out that chapter two of the Nigerian Constitution provides
enough weapon for the hardworking journalist to call to order any
operative in the polity who abuses that opportunity he has to serve the
people.
He said,
"we cry that the Freedom of Information Act is not in our books but what
difference would it make where media practitioners are lazy and want to
be spoon-fed. The Act is operative in many countries, but the problem of
accessing information without sweat has now become a thing of the past,
the FOIA is no more and no less an attempt to afford access to
information on the operations of government. This information is
regarded as a right because the government is elected and is accountable
to the people but there are about nine no-go areas in the US FOIA, and
these include national security and defence issues, medical records of
individuals, commercial and trade secrets and information meant for use
in prosecutions".
In their
goodwill massages, both the Chairman Senate Committee on Communications,
Senator Sylvester Anyanwu and the Chairman, House Committee on
Information and National Orientation, Hon. Dino Melaye respectively,
assured Nigerians that the FOI bill which has passed through the second
reading is being prepared for third reading and would soon be passed.
|
