Fatima Waziri

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“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both”.

-- James Madison

 

Are Nigerians aware of the fact that it is their inherent right to know? That it is their birthright to access information held by public authorities and impose an obligation on public authorities to publish key categories of information whenever, however and whatever? What I am simply trying to emphasis is the fact that Nigerians should push for the passage of the freedom of information bill that is now  before the National Assembly.

 

Virtually all government information in Nigeria is classified as top secret. A plethora of laws prevents civil servants from divulging official facts and figures, notably the Official Secrets Act which makes it an offence not only for civil servants to give out government information, but also for anyone to receive or reproduce such information. Further restrictions are contained in the Evidence Act, the Public Complaints Commission Act, the Statistics Act and the Criminal Code - amongst others.

 

The passage of the freedom of information bill, would give the public right to the information held by public authorities. Want to know how government money is been spent? Use the legislation to clear-up rates. Unhappy about a regulatory body that never seems to do anything when people complain? Ask for their internal guidance on handling complaints and see if their staff is doing what they're supposed to do. Want to know about how the money allocated to your state is spent and on what? Ask for financial records and budgets.

 

The public will have the rights to peer into a public authority's files and check how well it is doing its job. People who want to know why they aren't getting the service they expect, are unhappy with a proposal, or want to satisfy themselves that the right decision was taken, will now be able to see the paperwork for themselves.

 

Amongst the African nations, South Africa and Uganda are the only countries having an access law in this part of the globe. Ghana does have draft freedom of information law. Mozambique does not have an access law in place, but a draft access to sources of information Bill has been produced by civil society, but has yet to be taken up by the government. Zimbabwe too has an access law but it prevents information disclosure than providing easy access to documents to its citizens.

 

To the public, secrecy means that there is something to hide, that officials can't justify their decisions, are concealing their errors or have ignored legitimate concerns and this would make them sceptical about what the authority tells them, less likely to follow its advice or believe its successes. But an open approach encourages the opposite response. An authority that does not attempt to conceal information, and explains rather than hides uncomfortable facts, is more likely to be trusted by the public. If people can see for themselves the complexities of an issue, they are more likely to understand why progress can be slow. Freedom Of Information is a chance to strengthen public confidence that few authorities can afford to ignore.

 

Conclusion

The public is entitled to a clear understanding of the work of all public authorities. These authorities must accept that the public that employs them is entitled to be kept informed about the work they do, and to be given access to their records.

In the last decade, governments around the world have become increasingly more transparent. Over 40 countries now have comprehensive laws to facilitate access to state records; over 30 more are in the process of enacting such legislation and Nigeria should be amongst them. It is time for all Nigerians to make their leaders accountable after all we put them there. When they know they are been watched, they may work rather than loot. The freedom of information law would contribute to better government accountability, transparency and popular participation in democratic processes. I rest my case with a quote by a former American President Thomas Jefferson where is stated as thus; “ Information is the currency of democracy”