The need for synergy between Civil Society Organizations, Journalists and lawyers to meet key stakeholders to advocate for the domestication of the freedom of information law in Edo state has been stressed
The call was made during a media round table on Freedom of Information, FOI held in Benin City by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ to foster an enabling environment to access information from Ministries, Departments and Agencies providing public services.
The Program manager of ANEEJ, Mr. Innocent Edemhanria said the media round table was organized to discuss past efforts made towards domesticating the FOI law in Edo and how to revive the advocacy for the actualization of the old draft presented to the government.
According to him during his presentation on slide, the FOI was signed into law, May 28, 2011 to enable the public access certain government information in order to ensure transparency and accountability, adding that the essence is to make public officers accountable for their actions.
He noted that the benefits of the FOI law which applies to all arms of the three tiers of government include the guarantee of openness in government, citizen’s active participation in governance and it reduction of corruption in governance and promotion of quality service.
“It is important that Edo State domesticate the FOI law because of its impressive relationship with the Open Governance Partnership, OGP. Stakeholders, Civil society organizations, lawyers and journalists should call for the resuscitation of the FOI bill in the state.
“Let us refresh our minds and take a common position to advance the demand of FOI law in Edo,” he added.
The ANEEJ program manager gave an overview of the FOI Act, duties and obligations of public institutions under the FOI Act, previous efforts and the way forward and tips for making FOI requests
