NUJ, Falana, Dabiri charge journalists on FoI Act

JOURNALISTS URGED TO UTILISE FOI  ACT

by Sodiq Oyeleke

Chairman of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Deji Elumoye, has charged journalist to make use of the Freedom of Information Act.

He told the gathering of journalists at the seminar organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council in conjunction with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, that the FoI Act ought to offer a broader window of opportunity to practice unfettered journalism

He lamented that despite the Act, many Nigerians are still encountering difficulties in accessing public records and information.

Chairman of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Deji Elumoye

Elumoye said, “Over 10 years of struggle to have a law guarantying freedom of information in the country seems to be in vain.”

Also, one of the foremost human rights lawyers in Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, has argued that there was no law in the country that impedes access of information from government quarter.

Falana who spoke at a seminar in Lagos, insisted that with the promulgation of the Freedom of Information Act, the Official Secret Act, is dead.

Mr. Femi Falana

 “I am willing to come to the aid of any journalist denied access to information,” he said.

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Matters, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said the Freedom of Information Act is not to seek personal details of individuals.

Dabiri-Erewa, said while delivering a lecture at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, said the Act should not be abused by Nigerians in seeking personal vendetta.

Dabiri-Erewa cited section 16 (a) of the FoI Act, dealing with the Medical Worker – Client Exemption, as part of the broad category of issues that are exempted under the Exemption of Professional Privileges and other related matters.

Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa

She said, “FOI is not to request for documents that are personal to people. My medical records, just like my account statements are personal.”

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Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE

Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner