The Budget and Information Technology (BudgIT), a civic organization promoting accountability and transparency in public spending, has said that only eight out of its 1,000 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were granted by relevant government authorities in 2024.
Mr Chimezie Ebosie, Imo State Officer for BudgIT, said this at a webinar on “Demystifying the FOI Act”, organized by the Centre for Social Awareness, Advocacy and Ethics (CSAAE), on Saturday.
He said that the statistics underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and enforcement of the FOI Act to ensure government transparency.
Ebosie, while clarifying the scope of the FOI Act, emphasized that citizens have the right to request a broad range of information from public institutions, including budget allocations, procurement records, policy decisions, and implementation reports.
He added that the FOI Act is a “powerful civic tool accessible to every Nigerian, not just a privileged few”.
Speaking, Mr Muhammad Kassim, a Public Sector Reform Manager, shared compelling success stories from his work in Kaduna, Abuja, and other states.
He explained that the FOI Act has been instrumental in uncovering hidden truths and demanding accountability, leading to positive governance changes.
Kassim however highlighted practical barriers such as institutional resistance and bureaucratic delays that often impede access to information, painting a realistic picture of the challenges faced by citizens.
Also, Governance and Policy Specialist, Ruth Chidimma Okafor contributed her field experiences, demonstrating how she has used the FOI Act to monitor government projects beyond her home state.
Okafor affirmed the Act’s reliability as a tool for transparency and accountability and called for increased public awareness and utilization of the law by journalists, NGOs, civil society organizations, and citizens.
Earlier, the event’s Moderator and Executive Director of the CSAAE, Rev. Fr. Godswill Agbagwa, said that the webinar was organized to be all interactive, allowing panelists to share their expertise and real life experiences.
He said that the CSAAE, through its Advocacy Network, organized the webinar to highlight and address the challenges faced by citizens in accessing public information.
“ This webinar is more than an educational event—it was a call to action. It reaffirms that the right of access to information is fundamental to good governance and that accountability begins when citizens are informed and empowered to ask questions “, he said.
C-Advocate reports that the event brought together over 20 young advocates from across Nigeria, united by a shared commitment to leveraging the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for enhanced transparency and accountability in governance.
This is really appalling, what can be done to allow rule of law reign in this country.