A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Transparency and Accountability in Totality Initiative (TinT), given reasons why Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai and members of the State House of Assembly must domesticate the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act in the state before the end of his tenure in May.
Musa Suleiman, the FoI Project Officer, TinT, the mother body of “Follow Taxes and Shin Kun Sheda” made the call in Kaduna while addressing.
He said the measure will institutionalize Open Government Partnership (OGP) by ensuring citizens access to information in the state.
Suleiman explained that TinT, a member of the Digital Rights and Information Partnership, with support from USAID was advocating and supporting state and non-state actors towards the domestication of the FoI Act in Kaduna State.
He stressed that the advocacy was under “#KeepItOpen”, a USAID-supported Civil Society and Local Engagement project. He further opined that the organisation has made several advocacies under the project to relevant stakeholders and obtained commitments to making access to information a reality in the state.
“We are currently banking on the El-Rufai-led state executive council and the state assembly to translate the commitment into action before the end of this administration.
“This is crucial because the domestication of this act will strengthen openness, transparency and accountability in governance and strengthen the democratic processes,” he said.
“The act, if domesticated, will enhance access to public information, protect public records on grounds of public interest and personal privacy as well as public officers who provide such information without authorization,” he said.
He recalled the Kaduna state government joined the OGP in 2018 and is currently implementing five commitment areas as part of its commitment to promote accountability, transparency, and citizens’ engagement in governance, while acknowledging the concerted efforts made over the years to institutionalise the principle of open and participatory governance in all sectors.
He pointed out that domestication of the FoI act was part of the milestone of the OGP commitment on Access to Information in the First State Action Plan, 2018-2020.
The full statement reads: “Distinguished members of the press, sometime last year we informed you that we The Transparency and Accountability in Totality Initiative the parent organization of Follow Taxes and Shin Kun Sheda and a member of the Digital Rights and Information Partnership (DRIP) have launched a new project aimed at advocating and supporting both state and non-state actors towards the domestication of the Freedom of Information Act in Kaduna State with funding support from the USAID(SCALE).
“It is therefore important that we share the progress achieved so far in that regard. Recall that the Kaduna State Government joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in the year 2018 and are currently implementing five commitment areas as part of its commitment to promote accountability, transparency, and citizens’ engagement in governance. And concerted efforts were made over the years to institutionalize OGP principles in all the sectors of the state. Integral part of this effort is strengthening and actualizing the public’s right to access information as empowered by the Freedom of Information Act at the national level which is in the process of domestication in Kaduna state.
“As a progressive State, the Kaduna State Government came up with the first draft in 2018 and the amended copy in 2021 which from findings is currently at the committee level in the Kaduna State House of Assembly. Though it is on record that Kaduna State government is making concerted effort towards the domestication of this Act over the years, our prayers is that this administration cements it’s Legacy by domesticating the FOI to enhance transparency which is the fiber of its administration.
“The domestication of the FOI Act was part of the milestone of the OGP commitment on Access to Information in the First State Action Plan (SAP, 2018-2020), which was not achieved and not captured in the State Action Plan II. Civil Society Groups, individuals, and Technical Working Groups (TWG) under the auspice of the Open Government Partnership are currently working to ensure the domestication of the Bill is capture in State Action Plan III
“We have since the start of the project made several advocacies to relevant stakeholders including state (Executive and Legislature) and non-state actors alike and sincere commitments have been made by these stakeholders to make the dream a reality. We are currently banking on both the Executives and Legislatures to translate their commitment into action before the end of this administration.
“The domestication of this Act is important because it gives room to openness, transparency and accountability in government and strengthens the democratic structure with the end result of creating values. This is one of the core values this administration intends to achieve.
“We are therefore calling on the residents of Kaduna State, the Kaduna State Government, and Honorable Members of the State House of Assembly to fast-track the domestication of this Bill as it will fulfill the components of the OGP which Kaduna State is a signatory to.
“The Bill, if domesticated, will enhance access to public information; protect public records on grounds of public interest and personal privacy as well as public officers who provide such information without authorization”.
