In the largest federal budget in Nigeria’s history, ₦49.74 trillion for 2025, a glaring omission has surfaced—the negligible attention to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
A new report titled “A Vote Against Transparency” by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) reveals that only ₦230.83 million, less than 0.0005% of the total budget, has been allocated to FOI-related activities, sparking concerns about the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
While FOI funding rose by 96.76% from 2024, the total allocation remains grossly insufficient, highlighting the lack of systemic support for transparency measures.
The FOI Act, enacted in 2011, is designed to empower citizens with access to public information, fostering an open government culture. Yet, the report highlights that fewer than 2% of public institutions made any budgetary provisions for FOI implementation.
Out of over 1,300 public institutions, only 13 allocated funds for FOI activities in 2025, reflecting a systemic failure to prioritize transparency initiatives.
Most institutions allocated less than 1% of their budgets to FOI-related activities. For instance, the Federal Ministry of Works earmarked only 0.0004% of its ₦1 trillion budget. While the Nigerian Law Reform Commission allocated 1.8% of its budget to FOI reforms, key institutions like the Federal Ministry of Justice, tasked with overseeing FOI compliance, allocated nothing.
The report warns that underfunding the FOI Act undermines the government’s ability to manage public resources transparently. With no significant investment in information access, capital projects risk mismanagement, further eroding public trust in governance.
MRA outlines actionable steps to address these shortcomings: every public institution should allocate a minimum budget for FOI implementation; officials must be trained on FOI compliance and record management; investments in technology are critical for efficient access to public information; citizens need education on their FOI rights to engage effectively; the Federal Ministry of Justice should play a more robust role in monitoring compliance; and awards and recognitions should encourage institutions to prioritize FOI compliance.
Transparency advocates argue that the long-term benefits of an effective FOI Act, including improved governance, public trust, and accountability, far outweigh the cost of its implementation.
They emphasize that without significant resources dedicated to FOI, the government risks perpetuating a cycle of mismanagement and citizen disengagement.