Experts caution govt officials over FoI requests

Experts have advocated a paradigm shift in handling the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act to fully maximise its benefits of tackling corruption in the country.

The experts from the academics, law, civil society groups and public officials spoke at a Public hearing on building capacity of citizens on the use FoI to promote transparency and accountability, especially in the education sector.

They argued that until Nigerians see the need to curiously the FoI Act, there would not be a better society.

This was the verdict at an event organised by the Socio Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) in Lagos.

Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Professor Ayo Atsenuwa, National Chairman, Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Malachy Ugwummadu and Executive Director of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni stressed the need for a change to ensure that public officials put relevant information within their domains in public space.