FOI Bill: ENetSuD Calls Citizens to Write KWHA Legislators

The Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD), a Civil Society Organization that is reputed for its #FollowKwaraMoney activities, has opened the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill advocacy to Kwara citizens in order to make Kwara lawmakers be responsive to the yearnings of their constituents. ENetSuD noted that, though it initiated the domestication of FOI Act in Kwara State, the bill, when passed and signed into law, will benefit all Kwara citizens.

 

The FOI bill was passed by the 8th KWHA members on 30th May, 2019 and transmitted to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for Assent on 20th June, 2019 under the watch of Rt. Hon. Danladi-led 9th KWHA. Consequently, the Governor requested for minor amendments of sections 4, 5(1), and 6 where he wanted seven (7) days to be changed to fourteen (14) days. He also requested for an amendment of section 10 where he wanted the punishment to become a combination of a 2-year prison term and a 500,000 naira fine rather than an option of prison term or the 100,000 naira fine contained in the bill.

 

There seems to be no sign of activity by the committees to whom the bill’s amendment was referred by the Speaker. Sadly, no Honourable member of the KWHA has deemed it necessary to raise issues on the Floor of the House concerning the bill to date, which portrays all members as accomplices. The inaction of the 9th KWHA members on the FOI bill has denied the Governor his assent, as his letter to the KWHA clearly showed that he was interested in the Bill and would give assent as soon as the KWHA finalizes the minor amendment so requested.

 

To make citizens’ advocacy very easy, ENetSuD has powered a letter that interested Kwarans can adopt. They will only need to write their address, the name of their KWHA lawmaker and the constituency/LGA, and the name of the writer at the end of the letter. The letter can be downloaded from ENetSuD’s website (www.enetsud.org

To write your KWHA lawmaker, click on https://enetsud.org/2021/04/04/foi-bill-advocacy-letter-template/ to download the letter template.

To get the Whatsapp number of your lawmaker, check the infographic below

After sending the letters to your lawmakers, you may wish to give us a copy by sending it to our email (info@enetsud.org) so that we can possibly share on our Social Media platforms to enhance the publicity of this advocacy.

 

Signed,

Saeed Tijjani,

Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee,

Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD),

4/4/2021

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