FG Acts On FOI Act

The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja constituted an 11-member committee on the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the committee will map out operational guidelines for the implementation of the FOI Act in all the MDAs. The Chairman of the Committee is Mrs Nkechi Ejele, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR), while a Director in the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) will serve as the secretary.

Other members of the committee are representatives from Ministries of Information, Justice, Interior, Finance, Police Affairs, Defence and National Human Rights Commission.

Also to serve as members are Legal Adviser (OHCSF), Deputy Director, Establishment and Records (OHCSF), Deputy Director, Press (OHCSF) and a representative of the National Planning Commission.

Inaugurating the Committee, Alhaji Bello Sali, Head of Service of the Federation (HOCSF) said it was part of measures to commence full implementation of the FOI Act signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on May 28.

Sali, who was represented by Mr Charles Bonat, Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Records, OHCS, said the Presidency had instructed his office to collaborate with the Attorney-General of the Federation to fashion out the guidelines.

According to the HOCSF, the committee’s terms of reference include to study the operational guidelines and develop modalities for service-wide MDAs.

To prepare a roadmap for sensitisation, enlightenment and training of MDAs and relevant stakeholders as provided for in the Act.

Others are to locate sources of funding for both local and overseas training for participating officers in MDAs; to develop framework/modalities for bench marking MDAs on the implementation of the FOI Act.

Labaran Maku, Minister of Information, said the inauguration of the committee demonstrated government’s good intention to assist media practitioners.

Maku, who was represented by Mr Charles Chikezie, the Director, Public Communication and Publicity, said that it would also accelerate the pace of national development through information dissemination.