OPEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP: COMMUNITY MUST BE INVOLVED, APPLICATION OF FOI ACT NECESSARY

 


In continuation of activities aimed at promoting citizens participation in governance, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) held a One Day Community Engagement on ‘’Understanding Open Government Partnership (OGP) and Application of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 2011’’ in Bwari Area Council, Abuja.


Speaking at the event, Director General, NOA, Dr. Garba Abari who was represented by the Director, Reforms, Coordination and Service Improvement (RSCI), Mr. Sammuel Onoja Attah, emphasized that the core purpose of the FOI Act is for citizens to be informed on how government works and to encourage the active participation of all Nigerians in governance. 


He explained further that the objective of the event is “to enhance the understanding as well as build the capacity of the citizens in this Community to participate in governance issues and development of the Community”.


In his presentation, the resource person, Mr Bonat Tagwai explained the meaning of OGP, elements of OGP, Proactive Disclosure of Information and its Fundamental Principle.  He stressed that Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011 was put in place to avail citizens’ access to information from public institutions.


The OGP is an international multi-stakeholders initiative that focuses on improving transparency, accountability, citizen participation and responsiveness to citizens through technology and innovation. Nigeria signed into it (Open Government Partnership) in July, 2016 at the London Anti-corruption Summit. The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011 ensures that Nigerian citizens have access to information available at any public institutions. This event had in attendance both government representatives (state actors) and people in the community (non-state actors).

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