Abiodun's BLOG : FOI ACT

THE FOI ACT: OBJECTIVES

Nigerian Flag with FOI Act.

By: Abiodun B. Jimoh

The Freedom of Information Act applies to all PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. A public institution is any Legislative, executive, judicial, administrative or advisory body of the Government, including boards, committees or commissions of the STATE which are supported in whole or in part by public fund or which expends public fund also includes – Private bodies providing public services, performing public functions or utilising public funds.

The FOI Act (2011) objectives includes:

To make public records and information more freely available,;
To provide for public access to public records and information, protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy,
To protect serving public officers from adverse consequences for disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorization and establish procedures for the achievement of those purposes.

However, there are exemptions to disclosure under the act.
All government or public institutions are required, subject to certain exemptions, to disclose information pursuant to a request by any person. The exemptions are listed below:.......

Section 11- Exemption of international affairs and defence.
Section 12- Exemption of law enforcement and investigation.
Section 14- Exemption of personal information.
Section 15- Exemption of third party information.
Section 16- Exemption of professional or other privileges conferred by law.
Section 17- Exemption of course or research material.
Section 19- Denial by a public institution to disclose records.