By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

NNEWI——– Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has urged Nigerians to use the Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, to demand accountability from their elected and appointed representatives in federal and state governments.

Fagbemi made the call on Wednesday during the One Day Stakeholders Town Hall Meeting on Application of Freedom of Information, FoI Act, organised by Center for Transparency Advocacy in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice held at Finotel Hotel Awka Anambra State.

Fagbemi, who was represented by Garba Sunday, a lawyer in the FoI Department of the Federal Ministry of Justice, said that the present administration in the country is no longer ready to do anything in secrecy.

According to Fagbemi, “The Government of Nigeria is no longer interested in doing government business in secrecy and through the FOIA it has given the citizen of this great country power to access government information and records without being asked the reason for the usage.

“The Act also provides for people with disability to access government records. Access can be made orally to public institutions to access information.

“Aside of reactive response to FOIA request, public institutions are expected to proactive disclose their activities in the public space for free of access by the public. To ensure easy implementation of the Act, public institutions must ensure that they keep their records in such a way that it will be easy to access by any requester.

“Despite the fact that the Act guaranteed right to access to information, there are exemptions that you must comply with before releasing certain government information and records and also there are certain information that the Act does not apply to.”

Fagbemi commended Anambra State Government which has been making use of the Act, enabling Anambra people to know what the government is doing.

“I’m employing everyone in the country to avail themselves of FOIA instrument to know the activities of the government and hold them accountable to the citizen. It is your right to know and participate in the governance of this great country.

“We are also appreciating RoLAC through CTA for making this town hall meeting on FoI Act possible. Remember that the purpose of FoI Act is for transparency, accountability, openness and good governance in public sector. And not for blackmailing and fighting the government,” he said.






https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/agf-to-nigerians-use-foi-act-to-demand-accountability-from-public-officials/