By Adetunji Morenike, Abdulrasheed Baliqis and Vidal Emmanuel
It is less than 24 hours to commemorate
this year’s international world press freedom day and there’s no better time to
talk about laws and Acts of parliament that has contributed to the ease of
practicing journalism in Nigeria. The most recent of such law is the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) enacted and signed into law in 2012 by President
Jonathan’s administration.
Knowledge, as it is popularly said is power,
and information can make or mar any individual or even a nation. This is why it
is important for journalists and aspiring journalists to be in comprehension of
the FOI Act.
In a country whereby information seems
impossible to retrieve from the 'powers-that-be', the freedom of information
law gives the journalist and every single member of the public the right to
request for information from federal bodies.
Basically, the FOI is a federal law that
gives the public the right to make requests for federal agency records,
enforceable by the court. This is super important as it makes you know your
right as a journalist and how it works.
The Freedom of Information Act states that
all federal agencies are required to make requested records available unless
the records are protected from disclosure by one of nine FOIA exemptions.
As the right of access to information is
important, the FOI Act makes it possible for journalists to source for the
necessary information without the thought of being rejected or withheld of any
vital information.
Access to information enables journalists
exercise their role as public watchdogs in our democracies.
Journalists play a vital role in getting
the right information but are constantly faced with challenges in accessing information
from public bodies, especially when such information relates to sensitive
issues like looting of funds, crime, and other forms of corruption.
It is important to note that the FOI Act
can be enforced by courts and the agencies are advised not to withhold
information from journalists just because it technically falls within an
exemption and encouraged agencies to give out the necessary information where
and when it is most needed.
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