Journalists across Northern Nigeria have pledged to monitor the compliance of public institutions in carrying out their duties imposed on them by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This is coming after Media Rights Agenda (MRA), completed a two-day workshop for journalists on “Using the Freedom of Information Act for Investigative Reporting” held from Thursday, October 26 to Friday, October 27, 2023, at Asaa Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna, the capital of Kaduna State.
The workshop, which hosted 28 journalists from across Northern Nigerian states participated in the workshop.
Organised by Media Rights Agenda with support from the MacArthur Foundation through the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusion and Accountability (CMEDIA) Project, the workshop sensitised the participants on building their capacity to use the FOI Act for investigative reporting by familiarising them with the key provisions of the Act, how to make requests for information under the Act to increase their chances of success, and the enforcement mechanisms and options available to them whenever they are wrongfully denied access to any information requested.
Speaking in a communique issued at the end of the session, participants admitted to the poor usage of FOI in the media due to challenges, including inadequate awareness about the Act and how to use it by media professionals, the lack of willingness by many State governments and public institutions at the Federal level to comply with its provisions.
However, they also acknowledged the significant impact that the FOI Act can have on the work of journalists, including in conducting investigative reporting, and observed that the Law offers members of the media community a real possibility of getting much of the information they require to carry out their professional functions and to produce stories that will be of interest to the public while also impacting governance.
Furthermore, they noted its impact in revealing corruption, abuse of public trust, abuse of power or other wrongdoings and to ultimately push back against corruption while improving accountability in governance.
Moreover, the participants called on civil society organisations to support the media in the exercise and enforcement of their right of access to information, including by providing journalists and media organisations with legal and litigation assistance to challenge any wrongful denial of information under the Act in court.
They agreed to monitor compliance by public institutions with the duties and obligations imposed on them by the FOI Act, including the designation of Freedom of Information Desk Officers by various agencies of government, the proactive publication of certain classes of information as required by the Act, the submission by all public institutions of their annual implementation reports to the Attorney-General of the Federation; the requirement that public institutions train their personnel and officials on the public’s right of access to information, among others.
