Kwara Assembly Holds Public Hearing on FOI Bill After 6 years of Inaction
Kwara State House of Assembly on Monday hosted Public Hearing on Freedom of Information bill six years failing to act on version passed by 8th Assembly.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu in his remark commended the participants at the public hearing for their patriotic interest and maintained that the laws being considered are not about the present administration but the Kwara State Government.
Danladi-Salihu further assured that the House would work with the contributions and suggestions of the public to improve the bill in the interest of every kwaran.
The FOI bill also seeks to make public records and information more freely available, provide for public access to public records and information, and protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest, and the protection of personal privacy, among others.
At the public hearing, the majority of the stakeholders spoke in favor of the bill and supported its passage in the public interest; they commended the Kwara State House of Assembly and the Governor of Kwara State for bringing these important bills at this time.
Experts, professionals, and opinion leaders present did justice to provide useful insights that are germane to fine-tuning the bills to serve the intended purposes.
The Chief Press Secretary to Speaker, Sheu Abdulkadir Yusuf in a statement says opinions, suggestions, and recommendations of the stakeholders will be taken and harmonized to give the bills necessary improvements.
Stakeholders present at the public hearing include relevant government agencies, NBA, NUJ, NLC, TUC, PDP, ENETSUD, among others.
Recall that 8th Kwara Assembly led by Ali Ahmad passed FOI Bill domestication on May 30, 2019 and forwarded to Governor Abdulrazaq for assent. The Governor after few days returned it to the Assembly for minor corrections.
FactualTimes reports that the 9th Assembly led Danladi refuses to act on the bill till end of their tenure in June 2023. The Governor earlier this month forwarded the fresh FOI Bill for Legislative considerations.