September 2, 2010,

Sen. David B. Mark

Senate President

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Abuja, Nigeria

Email: spoffice@nass.gov.ng

CC:       Speaker House of Representatives

Your Excellency,

RE: Delay in the Consideration and Passage of the Freedom of Information Bill

The above subject matter refers.

Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) a pan African nongovernmental organization promoting the right of access to information on the African continent together with civil society organizations listed below have read statements attributed to Hon. Iyiola Omisore, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Appropriations in which he blamed journalists for the delay.

Mr. Omisore is quoted to have said that “the nation’s legislative arm could not pass the bill after several months of its proposal because media leaders were not ready to allow inclusion of clauses for penalties for publishing inoculate information and falsehoods”.

Nigerian citizens have a right to information in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights  both of which Nigeria has ratified. The right to freedom of expression and information is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria.  

We would like to remind the leadership and legislators in Nigeria that they have a duty to expeditiously debate and adopt a law to facilitate citizens enjoy their right to information without any conditions.

We also would like to bring it to the attention of legislators that freedom of information goes beyond journalists or any particular segment of the population and is a matter for every citizen irrespective of social status, gender, colour or race.

AFIC expresses deep concern over the delays and lack of progress on this important bill whose passing and implementation will positively impact on the quality of governance as much as the quality of life through improved service delivery in such areas as health, education, employment and social security.

We the undersigned call upon Senate and the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to:

1.      To show leadership to the continent and fast track the consideration and passing of the Right to Information Bill without any conditions

2.      Strengthen provisions in the Bill that guarantee the right of access to information

3.      Ratify important regional instruments that promote the right to information including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the Protocol of the Court of Justice of the African Union and the Protocol of the Court of Justice of the African Union.

We look to you leadership in moving forward this agenda in Nigeria and the region.

Yours sincerely,

1.      Africa Freedom of Information Centre, Kampala Uganda

2.      Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative

3.      Coalition on the Right to Information, Ghana

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