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INTRODUCTION
A training workshop for investigative journalists and the press on the
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011 was organised from May 20 to 22,
2012, at the Asaa Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna, Nigeria.
The training organised by the Right to Information Initiative (R2K),
Nigeria, the Forum of African Investigative Reporters (FAIR), and the
International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), was supported
by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
In attendance at the program were editors and reporters from radio,
television, and print media organisations from the 19 northern states
of Nigeria. The participants were drawn from both private and public
media institutions.
The main objectives of the training were to familiarise journalists
with the essential elements of the FOI Act and how they can use the
Act to conduct investigative reporting in Nigeria. The workshop was
also meant to demonstrate the importance of the FOI Act to general
media reportage.
Six papers were presented at the workshop, including: “The History/
Evolution of the Right to Freedom of Information and the Emerging
Global and Regional Best Practice Standards” by Mr Saka Azimazi,
Executive Director of the Network of National Human Rights
Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA); “Essential Elements of the
Freedom of Information Act, 2011” by Ms Ene Enonche, National
Coordinator, Right to Information Initiative (R2K), Nigeria; and
“Social Media and the Freedom of Information Act: Evolving Role of
Journalists in the Era of Citizen Journalism” by Odoh Diego Okenyodo,
Managing Director, Isu Media Ltd, Abuja.
Veteran journalist and columnist, Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf, the Executive
Director of Advocacy Nigeria facilitated a participatory session on
“Investigative Reporting: Aim and Methodology” while Mr. Dayo Aiyetan
of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, (ICIR)
presented a paper on the “Practical Application of Freedom of
Information Act for Journalists.” Also, Mr Tobi Soniyi of ThisDay
Newspapers spoke on “Preserving Media Integrity and Ethics in the
Practice of Investigative Journalism.” The workshop proceedings were
moderated by Mr Theophilus Abbah, the Editor of Sunday Trust and board
member of FAIR.
OBSERVATIONS
Following the presentations and group works, intense deliberations led
to the following observations:
1. That a dearth of thorough and in-depth investigative journalism is
glaring in the Nigerian media landscape.
2. That the FOI Act is laudable because it has broken down the wall
around government records, such that Nigerians can now access what was
previously considered as secret documents of government and public
organizations, even when the nature of their content may not
necessarily be secret, or may be information already in the public
domain. With the FOI Act, everyone, including those with disability,
can have access to information. This law, therefore, facilitates
investigative reporting by the media.
3. That public interest takes precedence over secrecy, according to the FOI Act.
4. That the FOI Act supersedes the Official Secrets Act, in respect of
access to information.
5. That the FOI Act creates an obligation on government and public
institutions to address the problem of improper recordkeeping by
government institutions.
6. That many journalists have not read the FOI Act.
7. That Journalism should be a tool for development; so the role of
the investigative journalists is to contribute to developmental
processes by highlighting areas where government fails in its
responsibility; and where rules are violated by government officials.
This is enshrined in the Constitution.
8. That social media is a cheap and effective way of receiving and
processing FOIA requests and public institutions must endeavour to
deploy social media tools in the implementation of the FOI Act.
9. That the ethics of Journalism are not being observed by many
journalists in the course of their practice.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Every journalist should become acquainted with the provisions of the FOIA.
2. Journalists have the responsibility to test the FOIA by making
requests demanding for access to public information. This will help
ensure implementation by public institutions.
3. Journalists should engage more in thorough and in-depth
investigative journalism aimed at contributing to significant and
positive social development.
4. Systems and processes should be put in place by Public Institutions
to facilitate access to information.
5. Public institutions should address the problem of inadequate record
keeping at all tiers, in compliance with the FOI Act.
6. The principle of maximum disclosure should be adopted by public
institutions in their proactive disclosure mandate. Public
institutions should make readily available annual reports and other
information of their activities.
7. Civil society, the media and other stakeholders should collaborate
on establishing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the effective
implementation of the FOI Act.
8. With FOI Act in place, Government should repeal inconsistent
legislations, including the Official Secrets Act, 1911.
9. Public institutions should communicate in a timely manner with
persons who make requests for information whenever they are unable to
meet deadlines stipulated by the FOI Act.
10. Journalists are enjoined to use social media to engage the public
in the application of the FOI Act, and in monitoring its
implementation.
11. Journalists should uphold the ethics of their profession in reporting.
This article was originally published on http://bit.ly/Kwtgd9
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