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Freedom of
Information Bill: Need to Ensure Speedy Passage
The Freedom of Information Coalition (FOI Coalition) welcomes the fact
that the third reading of the Freedom of Information Bill is scheduled
for Wednesday, December 14, 2005. We are encouraged by the commitment of
the Senate to ensuring a speedy passage of the Bill. This is indeed, a
mark of legislative responsiveness to public interest.
It is encouraging to note that the National Assembly, realizing the
importance of this Bill in its effort to ensure good governance in the
nation, is going a step further to ensure its passage into Law.
The benefit of this Bill to Nigeria and Nigerians is immeasurable,
especially as it would aid the lawmakers’ legislative interventions in the
political and economic agendas of the present democratic regime.
The FOI Coalition acknowledges the support of the National Assembly for
efforts aimed at ensuring fiscal discipline, transparency in governance,
reforming public procurement process, economic empowerment through NEEDS
and sanitizing of all major economic sectors, including Education,
Aviation, Power, Oil and Gas. These reforms can however become more
effective and lasting when they are owned by the people through access to
information.
The FOI Coalition therefore calls on the Senate to, as a matter of urgency
and in the interest of the nation’s development and good governance,
ensure the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill within the shortest
possible time.
Signed by the under listed organizations, members of the FOI Coalition:
Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
International Press Centre (IPC)
Concerned Professionals (CP)
Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE)
Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC)
Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC)
Lawyers Alert
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS)
Centre for Human Rights in Islam (CHRI)
Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP)
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