Communique of Stakeholders’ Technical Meeting on FOI Amendment Bill and Reporting/Compliance Mechanisms Introduction The International Press Centre (IPC), in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and YIAGA Africa, with the support of the European Union, convened a two-day stakeholders’ technical session on the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) Act Amendment Bills with a view to addressing mechanisms for enhanced reporting and compliance standards. The organisations, as implementing partners for the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, Phase II (EU-SDGN II), hosted the meeting on Monday, July 28 and Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the BON Octagon Hotel in Abuja. The event was attended by participants from various stakeholder groups, such as the FOI Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Assembly, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, civil society organisations, media professional bodies, media organisations, the legal profession, academic institutions, and others. The EU-SDGNII initiative seeks to promote pluralistic, participatory, and representative democracy in Nigeria through five components that incorporate support for INEC, the National Assembly and Judiciary, the political parties, the civil society, the media, women, youths and persons with disability. One of the expected results of Component 4: Support to media of the initiative of which IPC is the lead implementing partner is to facilitate improved compliance and usage of the FOI Act. The Abuja technical meeting therefore aimed to review the FOI Amendment Bills and create a Position Paper summarising key stakeholders’ input from sectors like media, law, civil society, academia, and government. The objective was to support the effective implementation of the FOI Act to promote transparency in elections and governance. At the opening ceremony, welcome remarks were given by Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, followed by messages from Dr. Akin Akingbulu Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Ms. Nkiru Uzodi (PLAC), and Mr. Godwin Garuba, Head of the FOI unit from the Federal Ministry of Justice, who also represented the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Sessions After the opening ceremony, Mr. Arogundade presented an overview of the Amendment Bills at the first plenary session, followed by Mr. Edetaen Ojo of Media Rights Agenda discussing gaps in the FOI Act and potential amendments to enhance enforcement and compliance. After the presentations, participants discussed key issues and then divided into groups to review the FOI Act section by section, identifying provisions and sections for proposed amendments to the National Assembly. During the plenary session on Day Two, breakout groups shared their recommendations for amending the FOI Act. After a detailed discussion, it was agreed to form a committee of experts to consolidate these recommendations into a position paper. Subsequent presentations discussed the legislative process and implementing meeting recommendations. Mr. Ojo (Media Rights Agenda) and Ms. Uzodi (PLAC) spoke on “Taking the Issues Forward: Engaging the Law-Making Process at the National Assembly”. The technical meeting concluded with participants adopting this communique containing their observations and recommendations: Observations Recommendations Adopted in Abuja, this 29th Day of July 2025. Signed: Dr. Ruqqayah Aliyu, Bayero University Kano Mr. Lanre Arogundade, International Press Centre For Rapporteurs For Conveners