Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on public institutions across Nigeria to fully implement the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act as the country marks the 14th anniversary of the law’s enactment today.
The organisation expressed disappointment over widespread non-compliance with the Act despite its critical role in promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
MRA, in a statement, noted that while the FOI Act has served as an important tool for citizen participation in governance over the past 14 years, its implementation has been hampered by deliberate resistance from public officials and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Mr. Ayode Longe, MRA’s Deputy Executive Director, emphasised the global recognition of the FOI Act as a cornerstone of democratic governance.
“It is an essential tool for combating corruption, building knowledge societies, and enabling citizen participation in governance. Yet, too many public institutions continue to treat the Act with disdain by ignoring requests for information or refusing such requests, failing to designate FOI Desk Officers, and failing to submit their annual implementation reports to the Attorney-General of the Federation as required by law,” he said.
Longe highlighted that civil society organisations, media professionals, and concerned citizens who have attempted to use the Act often face arbitrary denials, delays, and intimidation. He also noted that many court decisions favouring access to information are frequently ignored by public institutions.
Despite these challenges, the MRA official acknowledged that the FOI Act has enabled important revelations, from exposing corruption to holding public institutions accountable. Journalists and civil society actors have successfully used the law to uncover mismanagement of public funds, advocate for service delivery reforms, and amplify citizens’ voices.
The organisation welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent decision confirming that the FOI Act applies to all levels of government, describing it as a reinforcement of the law’s legal standing. Longe stressed that the judgment highlights the urgent need for state and local governments to develop implementation plans for the Act.
He identified poor record-keeping, inadequate funding, and bureaucratic resistance as persistent challenges undermining compliance with the law.
MRA called on governments at all levels to ensure full compliance with all provisions of the Act, including proactive disclosures and timely responses to information requests. The organisation also urged authorities to strengthen enforcement by empowering oversight mechanisms and sanctioning persistent defaulters.
The group further recommended enhanced awareness and training for public officials on their obligations under the law, promotion of state-level implementation across Nigeria, and protection for citizens, journalists, and whistleblowers seeking to exercise their right to information.
To commemorate the 14th anniversary, MRA announced the release of a short video documentary highlighting significant milestones in the organisation’s efforts to ensure effective implementation of the FOI Act over the years.