Nigerian Journalists have been asked to make use of the Freedom of Information Act in sourcing information from government agencies and private organizations which perform public functions.
The call was made by the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mr. Edetaen Ojo who was the resource person at a media round table organized by the Omololu Falobi Foundation (OFF) in Lagos.
“Journalists should start to use the law to get information from government agencies”, he said. Adding that “the business of information dissemination is what journalists are into and they should use the law to get relevant information and those they ordinarily do not have access to”.
According to Edetaen Ojo who was one of the arrow heads in the battle for the passage of the FoI Act, gave details of the Act which he maintained would help information dissemination in the country. He noted that “the document would amount to a waste of efforts if journalists who should use it professionally shy away from it”. Ojo however appealed to journalists to promote the FoI Act to better the lot of the members of the society who may not even know the details of the document. “It is only when the law is in use that it can reduce corruption, ensure transparency and improve the country”, he maintained.
At the round table, participants took turn to express their gratitude and fear about the bill. Jessam Kingsley who works with Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS), Nigeria recalled the brutal murder of a Maiduguri-based journalist who was until his death worked with the Nigerian Television Authority, (NTA). “What is in place as a means of protection for journalists who are at risk after sourcing ‘sensitive information’, what becomes of slain journalists like the NTA man recently killed in Maiduguri?” Jessam queried.
The Executive Director of MRA however allayed the fears journalists might nurse in the use of the recently passed bill. “No body would kill you because you are demanding information which is beneficial to the society , you have to use the Act responsibly and no body can kill you. As a matter of fact, journalism comes with certain responsibilities. Sincerely, stories that don’t make waves can not bring anything to your name, you must be daring and no body would kill you”, he stressed.
Ojo however called on media groups to get involved in activities which could educate journalists and the public on the use of the Act for improvement of the larger society. “The Act is a very powerful tool and it has taken us a long time to enact, so we have to use it and we must be careful we don’t abuse it”, he concluded.
In his remark, the Program Officer of Omololu Falobi Foundation, ‘Sanmi Falobi also urged journalists not to relent in their efforts to take advantage of the Act to source necessary information needed in their day to day reports.
Omololu Falobi Foundation was formed to immortalize the late founder of Journalists Against AIDS, Nigeria, Mr. Omololu Falobi who was felled by yet to be apprehended assailants October 2006 on his way home from a speaking engagement. The foundation has since engaged in media related training and campaigns to aid the industry.
Dayo Emmanuel |
