Freedom of Information Act: A Key to Transparent and Accountable Government in Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue IV, April 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Freedom of Information Act: A Key to Transparent and Accountable Government in Nigeria

Asadu Ikechukwu, PhD¹, Ozioko Sunday Chidozie^2
1Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
²Department of Public Administration, National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria

Abstract: – Transparency and accountability are vital ingredients of democratic governance. Nevertheless, in Nigeria public sector, the state of transparency and accountability has raised concern among the scholars, policy makers, analysts and other stake holders. The rate of corrupt practices and lack of responsive leadership in the public sector has partly been attributed to poor transparency and accountability culture. The study; therefore, examined how effective utilization of the provisions of Freedom of Information Act, 2011, can facilitate accountability and transparency in the public sector management. The methodology of the study is both qualitative and descriptive. Through documentary sources, relevant data were generated and subjected to contextual-descriptive analysis. The findings of the study, among other things, demonstrated that citizens’ access to information about government activities empowers them to hold their leaders accountable for their public conducts. This in turn makes the leaders to be open, responsible and responsive to the need of the people in carrying out their public functions to avoid vote of no confidence and criticism from the public. Consequently, the study suggests, inter alia, the review of some sections of the Act which deals with non disclosure of certain information; enlightenment of the public on the utilization of the Act; strict compliance to the provisions of the Act as well as a review of any other existing laws that may affect the effectiveness of the Freedom of Information Act.

Key words: Freedom, information, Act, transparency, and accountability

I. INTRODUCTION

In modern-day democratic society, the pervasiveness of transparency and accountability has been on the increase as novel challenges faced by administrations come up. Democracy still remains the hypothesis if those in public offices cannot be transparent and held responsible to account for their act of omissions, commissions, policies and outlay in the conduct of their authorized responsibilities. Since 1960, when Nigeria got its political independence, successive government, both military and civilian have been criticized by public analysts and anti-corruption campaign organizations for the pitiable state of transparency and accountability in public management. The management of public resources during the prolonged military regimes was veiled in concealment owing to restricted citizen participation in governance process and lack of access to information about government activities.

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