Freedom of Information Act, 2011
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) establishes the right of access to information held by public institutions in Nigeria. Enacted in 2011 after over a decade of advocacy, it provides for the disclosure of government information upon request and establishes the Office of the Information Barrier to oversee compliance.
Legal area: Law governing the powers and procedures of government agencies and public administration.
Year enacted: 2011
Full text: https://lawsofnigeria.placng.org/laws/freedom-of-information-act.html
Key Provisions
- Section 1: Right of access to information held by public institutions
- Section 2: Public institutions required to proactively disclose information
- Section 6: Procedure for requesting information
- Section 11: Exemptions including national security and personal privacy
- Section 19: Penalty for obstruction of access or concealment of information
- Section 30: Establishment of the Office of the Information Barrier
Significance
The FOIA was a landmark achievement for transparency and accountability in Nigeria. It applies to all levels of government and public institutions, enabling citizens to access government-held information. The Act has been used by civil society organizations to obtain government records and hold public officials accountable.