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Media Rights
Agenda Calls on President Obasanjo to Sign Freedom of Information Bill
ABUJA: Thursday, March 29, 2007. Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today
called on President Olusegun Obasanjo to assent to the Freedom of
Information Bill, which was dispatched to him for assent by the National
Assembly on Friday, March 23, 2007.
In a Press Statement issued in Abuja, MRA’s Executive Director, Mr.
Edetaen Ojo said: “We are concerned that time is fast running out as
the President now has only 24 days left within which to assent to the
Bill given the provision of Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution which
requires him to signify his intention to assent or withhold assent
within 30 days after a bill is presented to him.”
MRA noted that the proposed Law is consistent with the Obasanjo
Administration’s anti-corruption crusade and reform programmes, as it
will strengthen the legal framework for fighting corruption and provide
a platform for public participation in governance.
It drew the President’s attention to the fact that the National Economic
Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) document, formulated and
adopted by his administration, prioritizes the Right to Information Act
as one of two flagship legislative interventions to underpin Nigeria’s
economic transformation; the other being the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
MRA argued that the benefits of a Freedom of Information Act would be
far reaching for Nigeria and Nigerians as it would, amongst other
things, promote an accountable and transparent system of government,
eliminate corruption in all areas of governance, eliminate secrecy in
public sector transactions, promote public participation in governance,
enhance the public’s sense of belonging and improve public trust in
government.
Besides, it said, it would also enable Nigeria to comply with its
international obligations to adopt an access to information law for its
citizens, particularly under Articles 10 and 13 of the United Nations
Convention Against Corruption (2003); Article 9 of the African Union
Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (2003); Article 4 of
the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of
Expression in Africa (2002); Article 19 of the UN’s International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966); the Commonwealth Freedom
of Information Principles (1999), the UN’s Rio Declaration on
Environment and Development (1992), UN’s Principles on Freedom of
Information (2000); Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention on Access
to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to
Justice in Environmental Matters (1998), among others.
MRA urged the President to assent to the Bill immediately, saying: “We
believe that the signing into law of the Freedom of Information Bill
would be one of the major legacies of your administration. It will put
Nigeria in the league of some 70 countries around the world that have
Freedom of Information Laws and will make Nigeria the fourth country in
Africa to adopt such a Law, after South Africa (in 2000), Angola (in
2005) and Uganda (in 2005). This is fitting, given Nigeria’s leadership
role on the continent and globally.”
Note
to Editors:
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The Freedom of
Information Bill, when it becomes law, will give Nigerian citizens
access to public records and documents, subject to certain
exemptions specified in the Bill. The categories of information
exempted from public access under the proposed Law include:
information that may be injurious to national security; information
relating to the conduct of international affairs; information that
can interfere with ongoing law enforcement investigations, prevent a
fair trial, or undermine the security of penal institutions; trade
secrets, financial, commercial or technical information that belongs
to the government and has economic value; personal information; and
information subject to solicitor-client privilege, among others.
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The Bill was passed by
the House of Representatives on August 25, 2004 and subsequently
passed by the Senate on November 15, 2006.
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Both versions of the Bill
were harmonized by the Conference Committee of the National Assembly
on February 14, 2007. The harmonized version of the Bill was
subsequently adopted by the Senate on February 21, and similarly
adopted by the House of Representatives on February 27, 2007.
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If the President refuses
to assent to the bill, it will be returned to the National Assembly
and will require two-thirds majority of each chamber of the National
Assembly to pass it again for it to become Law without the assent of
the President.
For further information, contact: Ene Enonche (Ms)
Tel: 09-4133771
Fax: 09-4133772
Mobile: 0803 451 6807
E-mail:
ene@mediarightsagenda.org
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