Nigeria: Freedom House urges government to adopt Freedom of Information Bill
The government of Nigeria should adopt a proposed Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) in order to promote government accountability, transparency, and citizen participation in the democratic process, Freedom House said. Passage of the bill will grant Nigerians the legal right to obtain information and records that are currently inaccessible. The ability to request official files will allow any citizen to research government and business matters and verify if public claims are backed by official records.
PRESS RELEASE/UPDATE - NIGERIA
13 January 2004
Freedom House urges government to adopt Freedom of Information Bill
SOURCE: Freedom House, New York
**Updates IFEX alert of 17 April 2003**
(Freedom House/IFEX) - The following is a 12 January 2004 Freedom House press
release:
NIGERIA SHOULD ADOPT FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL
NEW YORK, January 12, 2004 -- The government of Nigeria should adopt a proposed
Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) in order to promote government accountability,
transparency, and citizen participation in the democratic process, Freedom House
said today.
Passage of the bill will grant Nigerians the legal right to obtain information
and records that are currently inaccessible. The ability to request official
files will allow any citizen to research government and business matters and
verify if public claims are backed by official records.
The FOI bill includes provisions that will make public records and information
more readily available to the extent consistent with the public interest and the
protection of personal privacy.
By approving the Freedom of Information Bill, Nigerian leaders will make a
strong statement in support of transparent government, said Freedom House
Executive Director Jennifer Windsor. Passage of the bill will render the
processes of government more open and will make those in power more accountable
to the people, she said.
In its annual global survey of freedom, Freedom in the World 2004, Freedom House
rated Nigeria Partly Free. The report can be found online at:
http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2003/countryratings/nige…
Freedom House's Freedom of the Press 2003 report on Nigeria can be found at:
http://www.freedomhouse.org/pfs2003/pfs2003.pdf
Freedom House, a non-partisan, nongovernmental organization, monitors political
rights and civil liberties worldwide and conducts programs to promote democratic
development.
For further information, contact Michael Goldfarb, Freedom House, 120 Wall
Street, New York, NY 10005, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 514 8040, ext. 12, fax: +1 212
514 8055, e-mail: [email protected], Internet:
http://www.freedomhouse.org/
The information contained in this press release/update is the sole
responsibility of Freedom House. In citing this material for broadcast or
publication, please credit Freedom House.
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