The Nigerian Ministry of Justice has reaffirmed that the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act extends beyond government agencies to private institutions that utilize public funds, underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability across all sectors.
This was revealed during a high-level roundtable engagement in Abuja, organized by the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, focusing on compliance with the FOI Act among government institutions.
“No Public Document is Secret” – Ministry of Justice
Speaking at the event, Mr. Garuba Godwin, Head of the Freedom of Information Unit at the Ministry of Justice, emphasized that the Act applies to all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), as well as private institutions benefitting from public funds.
> “With the establishment of the Act, no public document should be officially secret. Every Nigerian has the right to access information from public documents,” he declared.
Godwin disclosed that in the previous year, 91 public institutions adhered to FOI Act compliance by releasing requested government information. However, the Ministry is intensifying efforts to ensure even greater compliance this year.
> “The Honourable Minister of Justice has taken administrative action to ensure that this year, we have at least half, if not the majority, of public institutions complying.”
He added that the Ministry had expanded its engagement efforts, increasing the number of institutions involved from 100 last year to 300 this year.
“Government activities are no longer secret. Citizens should have access to exactly what the government is doing. Even the President has emphasized accountability, holding ministers and heads of MDAs responsible for their actions,” he stated.
While highlighting the significant strides made in enforcing the Act, Godwin acknowledged that certain exemptions still apply to specific types of information.
Despite progress, stakeholders at the event noted that full compliance remains a challenge. PPDC’s Chief Executive Officer, Lucy Abagi, emphasized that the FOI Act is a powerful democratic tool that enhances public trust and reduces corruption by promoting social accountability.
> “For over 10 years, we have pioneered FOI rankings, evaluating how ministries, departments, and agencies disclose information proactively. The Act plays a crucial role in strengthening governance, fighting corruption, and ensuring transparency,” Abagi explained.
She noted that challenges such as frequent staff transfers among government agencies hinder FOI compliance.
“Many FOI desk officers lack the necessary capacity to respond adequately to FOI requests. This training, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, aims to identify and bridge the existing gaps in over 150 public institutions,” she added.
Abagi further stressed that public funds should be monitored rigorously to prevent mismanagement.
> “We want to ensure that government spending is accountable, procurement processes are transparent, and corruption is significantly reduced.”
The training session, organized by PPDC in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and supported by the MacArthur Foundation, brought together numerous participants and FOI desk officers from various MDAs.
With the Nigerian government under increasing pressure to enhance transparency, the reinforcement of the FOI Act’s applicability to private entities handling public funds signals a stronger push toward openness, accountability, and responsible governance.
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