MRA Accuses FG of Undermining FOI Act with Poor Funding

Ogunsakin Mustapha
2 Min Read

By Hassanat Adebowale 

The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has accused the Federal Government of Nigeria of undermining the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act by consistently underfunding its implementation. According to the MRA, only one percent of federal public institutions included allocations for FOI activities in their 2025 budget proposals.

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In a statement released on January 15, the MRA unveiled its 22-page report titled “A Vote Against Transparency: A Report on Allocations for Freedom of Information Implementation in 2025 Federal Budget.” The report, signed by MRA’s communications officer Idowu Adewale, highlighted that only 13 out of over 1,300 federal institutions had budgeted for FOI implementation, with a total allocation of approximately N230 million, representing a mere 0.000464 percent of the Federal Government’s N49.74 trillion budget.

John Gbadamosi, MRA’s programme officer, argued that prioritizing transparency and accountability through adequate funding of the FOI Act is crucial to prevent mismanagement and misappropriation of government funds. He emphasized that without sufficient investment in the FOI Act, the government’s lack of transparency could jeopardize other projects and expenditures.

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The report also noted a significant increase in the level of funding for FOI implementation in the 2025 budget compared to 2024, with the number of institutions including FOI provisions rising from 10 to 13. However, Gbadamosi insisted that the overall amount allocated remains insufficient.

Gbadamosi stressed that effective implementation of the FOI Act would enhance government transparency, public participation, and trust, contributing to a knowledge society. He listed the public institutions that had allocated funds for FOI activities, including the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, and several federal ministries.

The MRA report recommended allocating resources to the Ministry of Justice to strengthen oversight and ensure compliance with the FOI Act. The Act, signed into law in 2011, mandates public institutions to make records and information more accessible to the public.

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