FOI Act: Secrecy, bureaucracy impedes journalists access to information – Edetaen Ojo

.. says knowledge of laws enhance advocacy for media freedom

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

13 years later, many journalists still struggle with how to access accurate information from public institutions in a timely manner as enshrined in Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Edetaen Ojo, maintained that the culture of secrecy and bureaucracy remains a significant obstacle to the efforts of many journalists.

Meanwhile, Mr Ojo had advised journalists to familarised themselves with the laws and regulations affecting the media that empowers and protect them and their sources

In his opening remarks at a workshop on Laws Affecting the Media and Safety of Journalists, he stated that knowing the laws enables you to advocate for media freedom and challenge unjust laws and regulations which restrict your rights and freedoms.

He submitted that Journalists who are familiar with the laws relevant to their profession and are aware of their rights under the Law can fight off censorship, effectively deploy the FOI Act in seeking and obtaining information.

Furtherance to the above, Mr Ojo expressed that in navigating these legal and digital environments, journalists have a dual responsibility to report truthfully, accurately and courageously as well as to adhere to legal and ethical standards.

Sadly, he revealed that most journalists have never made a freedom of information request.

According to him, ignorance about the provisions of the FOI Act and how to use it is widespread within the media community and also continues to be a challenge.

Consequently, most journalists are unable to use the Law to achieve its primary purpose, which is to make information more freely available to members of the public.

Therefore, being ignorant of the Law themselves, they are unable to perform their other functions of enlightening the public about the Law and how to use it, and monitoring government’s compliance with its provisions.

Concluding, he advocates that media professionals to uphold journalistic integrity as a key to gaining and maintaining the trust of the public, without which the media will not be able to perform its functions and achieve its objectives.