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Saturday, October 22, 2011

WORKSHOP ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT ENDS WITH A CALL FOR ITS DOMESTICATION

A 3-Day National workshop on Overview of Freedom of Information Act 2011 organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations has ended in Enugu, Enugu State.

The National workshop attracted participants from government ministries and agencies including public organisations, the media, local government and the organised labour with over 30 participants drawn various ministries sponsored by the Delta State Government.

The sponsored participants were made up of information Officers, Legal Officers, Auditors, Accountants, and Administrative Officers.

A communiqué issued at the end of the workshop and signed by Mr Celestine Ofuani and Barr, Ernest Edornwonyi, Chairman and secretary of the communiqué drafting committee respectfully called on various levels of government of each state in the federation to commence the process of domestication of the Freedom of Information Act 2011

The communiqué appealed for extension of time limit as specified in section 5 and 6 of the Act to extend to 21 days rather 7 days.

A call was also made for the inclusion of a term of imprisonment in addition to the fine for refusal to give access to information.

Government of all levels were also urged to create full-fledged department of information in the various ministries, local government councils, government agencies and public institutions for massive public enlightened campaign to sensitize Nigerians on the provisions of the FOI Act 2011.

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