The Freedom Of Information Law And Democratization In Nigeria

By Akeem Ayofe Akinwale[1]

Abstract

Nigeria is rife with marginalisation and human rights abuses, which have been aggravated by inequitable distribution of national wealth. This situation calls for viable institutional arrangements for the protection of fundamental human rights. The press has been empowered in this regard but Nigeria remains rife with a plethora of human rights abuses. The present paper therefore examines the freedom of information law and democratization in Nigeria. The paper is conceptualised within the ambit of Mills’ Theory of Sociological Imagination. Data used for the paper were derived from relevant documents and key informant interviews. A total of 64 journalists were purposively selected from 16 print and electronic press organisations in Lagos and Oyo states of Nigeria. Findings show that the press has been empowered through the Freedom of Information Bill, which was signed into law after a decade of its presentation to the Nigerian government. Most of the informants mentioned that the Freedom of Information Law would stimulate democratization, although they expressed doubts about its efficacy. Also, two-third of the informants expressed dissatisfaction over continuity of press freedom abuse in Nigeria. The results of this paper suggest the need for national consciousness to ensure protection of press freedom and human rights in the Nigerian democracy.

Keywords: Democratization, FOIL, Human Rights Abuses, Marginalisation, Press Freedom

Citation And Access To This Article

Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA) citation:
Akeem Ayofe Akinwale, ‘The Freedom of Information Law and Democratization in Nigeria’ (2013) No. 1 The Age of Human Rights Journal <https://revistaselectronicas.ujaen.es/index.php/TAHRJ/article/view/1266/1051> accessed [insert date of access]

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[1] Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Editor’s Note

Freedom of information refers to the right of access to public or government-held information. It is a human right that derives its status from its parent human right: The right to freedom of expression. The United Nations aptly stated this fact thus:

“Freedom of Information (FOI) can be defined as the right to access information held by public bodies. It is an integral part of the fundamental right of freedom of expression, as recognized by Resolution 59 of the UN General Assembly adopted in 1946, as well as by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), which states that the fundamental right of freedom of expression encompasses the freedom to “to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.

Leesi Ebenezer Mitee
Legal Informaticist