Delta NUJ Chairman, Ikeogwu Calls For Full Implementation Of FOI Act In Nigeria

By JOHNSON EBIGIDE

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, has called for the full implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, passed into law since 2011 to strengthen responsive and accountable governance in the country.

Comrade Ikeogwu made the call when he granted audience to the Acting Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the state, Mr. Chris Anyabuine, at the temporary Press Centre of the NUJ in Asaba, the state capital.

He said that the principle behind the act was laudable but that its implementation had thrown some doubt on the sincerity of those who were to make information available for the benefit of the public, adding that the high level of insecurity in the country today could be traceable to lack of strategic information.

Comrade Ikeogwu said that full implementation of the act would afford journalists the access to requisite information to educate the public on the policy thrust of government at all levels in the country, adding that it runs against the grains of proper reasoning for government at the federal level to be claiming to support free access to information while also appearing to gag the citizenry from speaking up their minds on issues bordering on good governance.

He commended the National President of the NUJ, Comrade Chris Isiguzor, for his stand on the Federal Government- Channel’s Television faceoff, adding that if media outfits in the country were scared from featuring personalities on their platforms because of possible sanctions, the Freedom of Information Act would appear to be cosmetic.

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Comrade Ikeogwu said that the state council of the NUJ would partner the NOA in its advocacies in the state, particularly the need of the public to get proper education on the FOI Act in the state.

Earlier, Mr. Anyabuine, had told the chairman that NOA had thought it wise to partner the union in the state in its determination to educate the public on the existence of the FOI Act, adding that the union is quite strategic in information dissemination, just as he congratulated the council for successfully hosting the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NUJ in the state.

He said that there was the urgent need for Nigerians to get proper knowledge about the act, adding that it would add values to good governance when properly and fully implemented in the country.

Present during the visit were Comrade Salvation Ogono, Vice Chairman, Comrade Celestine Aforkoba, Internal Auditor, Comrade Emeka Chuwujindu, Ex-Officio 11 and some other members of the union in the state.

Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a copy of the FOI Act to Comrade Ikeogwu by Mr. Anyabuine.