Abike Dabiri Exposes Limitations of FOI Act

Ex-broadcaster and member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa has exposed key limitations to the recently passed Freedom of Information Act.

In a lecture on the Importance of Freedom of Information, Fol, Act at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos, the former presenter of popular NTA Network weekly programme, News Line, disclosed that the Fol Act does not give anyone the right to ask question “pertaining to the defense of the country” as well as those regarded as personal. Hon Abike Erewa while noting that “anyone who destroys information willfully would attract a jail term,” declared that only three states have adopted the Act.

She attributed the delay in the passage of the Fol Act to the misconception that “the bill was meant for the media”. While stressing that every Nigerian has the right to know how the country spends its resources as well as how much each political representative is paid, the lawmaker stated that there are plans to organize seminars for both individuals and journalists to teach them all “they need to know about the Act” as well as its application.

The Provost of Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Dr. Elizabeth Nkem in an address at the occasion, described Hon. Abike Erewa as someone who has “made her mark in the media industry”, just as she added that the lawmaker is a friend of the institute.