By Ebere Agozie
The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, says the federal government, through the freedom of information Act, is committed to transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s public sector.
Jeddy-Agba said this in her speech at an event to commemorate the 2024 International Day for Universal Access to Information conference on Monday in Abuja.
The permanent secretary was represented by Mrs Victoria Ojogbane, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the event titled ‘Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector’.
She added that the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu firmly believes that government business should not be shrouded in secrecy, but conducted with transparency and accountability.
She said the conference was to assess the achievements made in accessing government information and records by citizens and the world at large.
“We will also analyse the progress made by the public sector in proactive disclosure of government information.
“We always engage with government representatives, critical stakeholders and civil society organisations to ascertain the implementation of access to information policies across government entities.
“This is to ensure policy coherence for access to information implementation across both public and private sectors’’.
She noted that the courts have in recent times given rulings that continue to uphold the need for disclosure by Public Institutions of government information and records.
“These rulings have enhanced the implementation of the Freedom of information Act, in Nigeria.
“It will continue to provide the public sector with guidelines that will ensure best practices and mainstream culture change by public institutions to give access to government information and records in their custody.
“It is in the light of the above that the ministry will be awarding public institutions the prestigious “Award of FIOA compliance 2025” at the celebration of the 14th year of the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in Nigeria.