After more than a decade of legislative debates, Nigeria’s House of Representatives passed important legislation on freedom of information. Now, the Nigerian Senate will consider the bill.
The bill is a significant step towards institutionalizing the right to information, which is outlined in Nigeria’s Constitution. It supports proactive disclosure of information and enables people to exercise their right to access information. In addition, public institutions will be mandated to provide access to public records, ensuring further accountability and transparency.
A network of media and civil society groups, led by Right to Know (an Open Society Foundations grantee), welcomes the bill as a step forward for democracy in Nigeria. The groups believe that a robust mechanism to protect the right to information will promote good governance and facilitate a culture of openness to fight against corruption.