Justice Minister Minster Lateef Fagbemi has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies to adopt proactive method in disclosure of information to ensure transparency in implementing access to information.
Fagbemi made the call yesterday at an event in commemoration of the International Day For Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).
He said that the proactive disclosures by MDAs will also enhance the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act of 2011.
He added that the event with theme: ‘The Importance of the Online Space For Access To Information is timely as the world yearn for the release of accurate information without being asked for it.
“The right to access Information held by public authorities recognized by the international community fundamental, not only is a means to protect other rights, including democracy, but to also support sustainable development”.
The Federal Government enacted the Freedom of Information act to make public records and information more freely available, provide for public access to public records and information, protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest.
“It also protects personal privacy, serving public officers from adverse consequences of disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorisation and establish procedures for the achievement of those purposes.
‘When MDA’s periodically publishes their data on their websites. It increases the flow of information from government to the public and limits the need for formal applications under the FOI Act.
“The adoption of proactive disclosure measures also assists the MDA in reducing time and resources spent in reviewing Individual requests”.
“It demonstrates government’s commitment to transparency, openness and accountability, which in turn increases public confidence in government Initiatives and actions”.
Also speaking, the Head of FOI Unit of the ministry, Mr Garuba Godwin cited that Section II stipulates forty ((40) classes of records and information must be proactively disclosed by all public Institution.
“Section 2 (4) FOIA also encourage proactive disclosure by mandating public institution to ensure that information is widely disseminated to people through print, electronic, Online etc,” Godwin said.
Mrs Faith Nwadibhi, Executive Director, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) and Mr Stanley Achonu, Country Director, ONE Campaign were among the CSOs actors that dissected the processes and enlightened participants at the event.

There was apprehension at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Abuja, yesterday, as protesting civil servants grounded activities after the Minister, Dave Umahi, locked out over 300 staff and directors who resumed work late.
The public servants expressing their displeasure also confined the minister to his office, demanding an apology.
It was gathered that Umahi prevented workers who came late to work from gaining access to the ministry for over four hours after he arrived at 9:30am.
However, after the gate was opened, the workers, comprising of both Housing and Works Ministry, refused to enter the ministry and resorted to a protest.
The protesting staff also prevented entry and exit into the building thereby preventing the minister from leaving the office to receive the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, who came to the headquarters on a courtesy visit.
The protesters who were heard chanting “Umahi must go,” expressed displeasure over Umahi’s action which they said did not take into cognisance the fact that they reside in areas outside the city centre.
One of the members of staff who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution said, “Most of us live in areas as far as Suleja in Niger State, some in Gwagwalada, Kefi, Abaji, Kuje Kwali, Kaduna road.
“Matters have been compounded with the fuel subsidy removal. Most times, we have to join some of our friends who have cars to come to work because of the huge transportation cost.
“Most of us don’t earn up to N80,000 as salary monthly, how do we feed our families and meet other obligations? We expect the Minister to show a better understanding of the situation in the country instead of trying to run this place like Ebonyi State.”
Giving further details, another staff said that, “The minister upon resumption around 9:30 am instructed security officer to lock the gate.
“Over 300 staff including some directors were asked to stay outside and even when we tried to enter, the gatemen said it was on the order of the minister and nobody should enter the premises.
“Eventually, we had to call our colleagues who were already inside to inform them of what had happened. They came outside to join us, blocked the road and everywhere became messy.
“Even the governor of Lagos, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, had to turn back because of the crowd.
“After about four hours, the minister came down to address us apologising that he didn’t give any directive.
“The union leaders had put off the lights so no one could do anything and that’s why everyone had no choice but to come outside.”
Another staff said it was insensitive for the minister to lock out workers, hinting that the situation would have degenerated into something if the minister didn’t apologise.
“To me, it was insensitive for the minister to have done such thing even though he denied it. Everyone in the country is just managing. Most of our workers stay very far from town and it is sad all of these happened today.”
Normalcy later returned at the Ministry, as some senior officials of the ministry and the union leaders intervened, but some of the staff were seen in clusters discussing the situation.

The Director-General, National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yushau Ahmed, has urged employers of corps members to pay particular attention to security of corps members posted to their organisations.
Ahmed, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, NYSC acting Zonal Coordinator, South East, gave the advice during the 2023 Corps Employers Workshop yesterday in Enugu with the theme “Enhancing the Wellbeing of Corps Members for Optimum Productivity.”
He said that the workshop was aimed at receiving feedback from strategic stakeholders on the strength, weakness and potentials of the scheme, as well as chart ways of strengthening its operations in the post jubilee era.
“We are also expected to review ways of addressing the welfare needs of corps members in their places of primary assignment and deliberate on how to ensure safety of corps members in their places of assignments.
“We are expected to look at the roles of the corps employers in community development service, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development, security during service and health initiative for rural dwellers,” he said.
The NYSC Enugu State Coordinator, Mrs Gladys Adama, said that the theme of this year’s workshop was more apt in the present situation, where Nigerians were faced with increased insecurity coupled with the dwindling resources to adequately take care of the ever expanding corps population.
Adama added that security of corps members was an issue that must always be given adequate attention.
She urged the employers not to apply for corps members if they could not provide accommodations for them or give them money in lieu of accommodations.
During the business session, Mrs I. Oladipo, Deputy Director, Account, NYSC South East, presented a paper on “The role of NYSC and corps employers in impacting the host community through community development service, health initiative for rural dwellers, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development in the post jubilee era.”
Oladipo said that community development service programme of the NYSC was one out of the four cardinal programmes of the NYSC scheme in which corps members contribute positively to the development of their host communities.
She added that the NYSC skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development projects reached out to all Corps members mobilised for the one-year mandatory service to the nation.
She urged the employers to emphasise more on the welfare of the corps members as well as correct them when they go wrong.
Meanwhile, Mrs Dimma Anyaocha, Assistant Director, Operations, NYSC, South East, in her presentation on “The role of corps employers in ensuring the welfare and security of Corps members”, said that corps employers who played a major role in the welfare and security of the past 50 years deserve to be celebrated.
Anyaocha identified notable victories of the employers, adding that some of them had successfully retrained or employed corps members after their service year, some corps members, with the recommendation from the corps employers, had won NYSC awards and even moved on to get jobs in other sectors, among others.
Some employers, who participated, urged the NYSC to provide accommodations for the corps members in all the Local Government Areas.
A warrant Officer, David Igbidi, from Air Force Comprehensive School, Agbani, Enugu, said his school had adequate conducive accommodations for the corps members posted to the school.
He requested for NYSC medical personnel to be posted to his school.
Mr Johnson Ugochinyelu of Akpugoeze High School, Akpugoeze, Enugu, said that most of the schools in Enugu did not have accommodations for their staff, therefore, the corps members would find it difficult to be given accommodation.