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ON THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
The biggest mistake in
discussions of a Freedom of Information law is to think of it as a Media
Access Legislation. For it to have real value, it should be seen as a
citizens access legislation. Its benefits include improving the quality of
citizen participation in democracy. This is the base ingredient of civic
culture which de Tochville long identified as the strength of the American
system. Public discussion in Nigeria today is dominated by polemics and
hyperbole precisely because facts are in short supply. Our democracy will
be much enriched if citizens access information and can be citizens
therefore in this ideal sense of the word from old Greek philosophy.
A freedom of information
law is also invaluable for accountability. If we can learn from the modern
business enterprise we find that companies that are less open tend to have
greater difficulty with adapting to change and responding to challenges
from the environment. This is because information that would have been
useful for a rapid response may not be available to those making a
particular decision even though such information already exists in the
organization.
Two well known accidents
that horried Britain some years ago became notorious illustrations of the
above because subsequent inquiry showed that the information that could
have helped avert the disaster existed. These were the King Cross
Underground Fire and the sinking of Herald of Free Enterprise ferry off
the coast of Zebrugpe in Belgium.
It is also important that
we recognize the benefit of such a law for enhancing the perception of
Nigeria as both an investment destination and a country where
international trade has lower transaction costs because information can be
readily accessed. Business depends on quality intelligence for effective
decision making. A Freedom of Information Act make that quest for better
information an easier process thereby facilitating growth, employment
generation and development. We cannot afford to miss the opportunity of
this law to improve the environment of business.
From a perspective of the
media as an agent of the citizen in the gathering and distribution of
information I think it should also make that much talked about fourth
estate of the realm more accountable. Journalists will no longer excuse of
secrecy for failing to report accurately.
Pat Utomi
Lagos Business School,
Pan-African University,
Lagos.
26/4/05
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