By Dare Akogun
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has hailed the Supreme Court judgment delivered on Friday affirming the applicability of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011 to all tiers of government in Nigeria, describing the decision as a landmark ruling that strengthens democracy and enhances public accountability.
In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA’s Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Ayode Longe, said the Supreme Court’s ruling represents “a democratic milestone in Nigeria,” and reaffirms the principle that all levels of government federal, state, and local are accountable to the people.
Mr. Longe noted that the judgment has reinforced the legal framework for open government and transparency, giving renewed vigour to the media, civil society organisations, and Nigerian citizens in their fight against corruption and entrenched secrecy in public institutions.
“MRA is obviously pleased by the judgment of the Supreme Court confirming what has always been our position on this issue: that the FOI Act is binding on all public institutions at federal, state, and local government levels.
“It is a historic decision that has finally settled this issue and we see it as a resounding victory for transparency, accountability, and the right of every Nigerian to access information held by public institutions,” he said.
The MRA Deputy Director criticised the attitude of some state governments that had over the past 14 years claimed that the FOI Act was only applicable to federal institutions because it had not been “domesticated” in their states.
He described this stance as a deliberate attempt to evade transparency obligations.
“If they genuinely believed the National Assembly’s FOI Act didn’t apply to them, they could have enacted their own state-level FOI laws. The Supreme Court’s judgment brings an end to this long-standing uncertainty,” Mr. Longe said.
He also praised the courage and tenacity of the litigants and their legal teams who took the matter up to the apex court, as well as the Supreme Court Justices for their bold and principled decision which he said has affirmed the public’s right to know how they are governed and how public resources are managed.
Calling for immediate compliance, MRA urged all public institutions, particularly at the state and local government levels, to begin full implementation of the FOI Act.
This includes responding promptly to information requests, proactively disclosing public information, designating FOI Desk Officers, and instituting proper procedures for public engagement.
Mr. Longe concluded by encouraging citizens, the media, and civil society groups to leverage the judgment and the law itself to demand greater accountability and play active roles in governance processes at all levels.
