Ibadan – The Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mr Edetaen Ojo, on Wednesday said the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) was an important tool in fighting corruption in Nigeria.
Ojo spoke at a media workshop for journalists on the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was jointly organised by MRA and The MacArthur Foundation.
“The FOI is an important tool to fight corruption.
“The FOI also enhances accountability and good governance because it enables public to scrutinise all actions and decisions of leaders and assess their performance.
“It facilitates democratic participation as it enables citizens to participate effectively in decision making issues that affect them,’’ he said.
The director said that effective use of the act would also ensure public institutions work better, eliminate secrecy in public sector and promote transparency.
Ojo said that some journalists, because of fear, impose restrictions on themselves as to how far they can pursue information.
“Sometimes we fear so much about what would happen that we do not exercise our rights,’’ he said.
Ojo said that seeking for access to information was no longer about the public sector only, but also about reputable private institutions.
The director said that the public should be able to demand information from such institutions that shape their daily lives.
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Ojo said that due process should be followed in pursuing rights to access of information. (NAN)