June 12: FOI is part of Democracy gifts, ENetSuD reminds Kwara Assembly

The Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD), an anti-corruption Civil Society Organization promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability, has reminded the Kwara State House of Assembly (KWHA), that the Freedom of Information is part of the gifts and gains of democracy that Nigeria is celebrating today.

ENetSuD Coordinator, Dr Abdullateef Alagbonsi, in a statement on Saturday, berated the KWHA for refusing to legalise free access of Kwarans to public information that will lead to a citizen-focused anti-corruption fight in the state.

ENetSuD said it is disappointing that since July 23, 2019 that the KWHA has been requested by the Governor to do a minor amendment on the FOI Bill before his assent to it, the KWHA has failed to attend to the bill.

The anti-corruption body considered the inaction of the KWHA as a show of legislative rascality, which is anti-democratic, anti-transparency, and anti-accountability.

The body wondered why it has taken the legislators about 2 years without changing 7 days to 14 days, and 100,000 naira to 500,000 naira as requested before the Governor’s assent.

ENetSuD is still imagining what the legislators will say or record as their legislative achievement in the area of open governance, transparency, and accountability during their 9th Assembly.

The anti-corruption body, however, advised the 9th Assembly to pass the FOI bill immediately.

Signed,
Owolewa Olayinka El-Hakeem,
Director of Public Relations,
Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD),
12th June, 2021