NAN-H-97
Information
By Grace Alegba
Lagos, Feb. 20, 2017 (NAN) The Media Rights Agenda (MRA), an NGO, has called on Nigerians to use the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in order to get the most out of information gathering.
The Programme Manager of MRA, Mr Ayo Longe, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.
Longe stated that members of the public, especially journalists, do not take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Act.
Cue in audio (Longe)
“On the FOI, people need to be sensitised about it and then be encouraged to use it.
“Then within the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, there are also challenges in that not all MDAs have designated FOI officers.
“Even those that have designated FOI officers, there have been a lot of movements, a lot of transfers.
“All of these people (FOI officers) get training, even where some people are trained, before long, they are redeployed.
“I must warn that the FOI Act is not a law that is meant to assist journalists in getting newsroom deadline information.
“It is for doing in-depth investigation that can take months and even years.
“And I would say, I am not seeing it in Nigeria.
“You discover that stories that win you awards are investigative reports, if you set your mind that you want to do it, you will do it.’’
Cue out audio
He, therefore, advised MDAs to train their staff to become FOI officers, instead of using a pool officers sent from other ministries. (NAN)
GA/ERO/YEE
Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Emmanuel Yashim
==================================