House of Representatives Again Throws Out FOI Bill

Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber, the House of Representatives on June 3, 2008, for the seventh time, refused to take the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill at the Committee of the Whole (Third Reading). This came barely 24 hours after the upper chambers, the Senate, held a Public Hearing on the Bill.

Hon. Usman B. Nafada, Deputy Speaker

In the plenary session presided over by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Alhaji Usman Bayero Nafada, the motion to take the Bill, the third item on the day’s Order Paper, was moved by Honourable Abike Dabiri, the main sponsor of the bill. Her motion that the report on the bill be considered in the Committee of the Whole House was rejected by some members who threw the plenary into rowdiness that lasted for more than 20 minutes.

Hon, Nafada’s attempts to dissolve the House into executive session so that the grey areas in the bill be discussed and resolved were equally resisted by some of the members shouting: "No! No! No!"

When he was able to get a semblance of peace and asked if the House should consider the report on the Bill, there was a roar of "nay" from the floor and the deputy speaker ruled against considering the report on the bill.

Hon. Abike Dabiri, Arrowhead of the Bill

Speaking later at a joint briefing after the House session Hon. Dabiri and chairman of the House Committee on media and publicity, Hon. Eziuche Ubani linked the members’ rejection of the Bill to their fear of the media.

According to Dabiri, "It is all about the fear of the media. But this is a bill that will promote transparency. But there is a misconception that it is a bill that will make the media so powerful. But we will not give up. We will continue to talk to members because it is not a media bill and there is nothing to be afraid of."

In the same vein, Hon Ubani promised to educate his colleagues. He said, "To have a closure on the bill is unacceptable. But we will continue to educate people that the bill will not make the media to go out of control. This is not a time to give up. It is contradictory because if you say you are in support of transparency and accountability, and you are rejecting this bill, it is disturbing."

Journalists covering the House, displeased with the situation resolved to write a protest letter to the leadership of the House. The House press corps which met shortly after the House adjourned sitting, said it was unhappy with the rejection of the bill and threatened to boycott further activities of the members until they show commitment to passing the bill.

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