Update: The Freedom of Information Bill has passed !!!!

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday hailed the House of Representatives for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill.

NGE, in a statement by its President, Gbenga Adefaye said: "This is the second time within a decade, that the House would respond to our collective hunger for openness and transparency in the administration of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The FOI law will certainly aid accountability in our public life.

For the Guild, it is remarkable that the leadership of the House of Representatives has kept its words to the Guild, to pass this bill because it agrees that the nation (not just the media) needs it. The Guild will like to note also the concurrence of the leadership of the House that a Freedom of Information Law will make legislation easier as nobody in the Ministries and the MDAs can withhold information that is needed for public good - whether for legislative purposes or basic information and education of the citizenry by the media.

"The Guild now calls on the Senate to borrow a leaf from the House of Representatives by passing the Bill early enough for Presidential assent. We are delighted that the Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. Labaran Maku, had during the biennial convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Lagos last month, publicly committed to lobbying for Presidential assent of the Bill once it is passed by the National Assembly. We expect him to honour his words, once the Senate does its patriotic duty of opening up the system for accountable government."

In a statement by its Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP said:"Every elected leader has a responsibility to enable and ensure that the citizens fully enjoy their human right to know, and we applaud the role and leadership of the House of Representatives on the passage of the bill."

The group called on the Senate "to move swiftly to pass the bill, and on President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the bill into law as soon as it is sent to his office."

"Once the bill finally becomes law, the government will need to establish a plan of action to review, amend or repeal all existing laws such as the Secrecy Act, the Federal Commissions (Privileges and Immunities) Act, the Public Complaints Commission Act, the Evidence Act and the Criminal Code, which contain clauses forbidding the disclosure of official information by public officials.