News Agency of Nigeria
CTA calls on Nigerians to leverage FOIA for greater government accountability
General News

CTA calls on Nigerians to leverage FOIA for greater government accountability

FOIA
By Naomi Sharang
The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), has called on Nigerians to take advantage of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as a tool to demand accountability and transparency from government institutions.

The Executive Director of CTA, Mrs Faith Nwadishi, made the call on Thursday in Abuja, during the closing session of the Strengthening Accountability and Governance in Nigeria Initiative (SAGNI) project.

Nwadishi noted that the FOIA remains a potent weapon in Nigeria’s fight against corruption and must be continuously deployed by citizens, civil society organisations and the media to ensure that leaders remain accountable to the people.

“The Freedom of Information Act 2011 is a powerful instrument in our arsenal against corruption. By leveraging FOIA, we can promote transparency and hold leaders accountable,” she said.

Launched in October 2024, the SAGNI project was designed to enhance the implementation of the FOIA, increase public awareness and build institutional capacity at both national and sub-national levels.

Over the past 12 months, Nwadishi said that CTA carried out multilingual media campaigns, radio programmes, theatre-for-development documentaries, and distributed simplified FOI handbooks to demystify the Act and bring it closer to ordinary citizens.

According to Nwadishi, SAGNI recorded modest but significant achievements, including capacity-building workshops for civil society organisations, journalists, community-based groups, women’s associations and persons with disabilities.

She highlighted the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling which clarified jurisdictional ambiguities around the FOI Act as a watershed moment that further strengthens the obligation of state governments to comply with FOI provisions.

“The FOIA is here with us, let us use it and fight corruption even when corruption fights back, we must not surrender as victory will surely come,” she declared.

In his goodwill message, the Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Samson Osagie, said that the SAGNI project has enhanced the capacity of the state to improve service delivery to citizens.

He noted that Edo remains committed to open governance, stressing that Gov. Monday Okpebholo’s administration will continue to champion transparency and accountability.

“Our commitment is to ensure that the gains of the SAGNI project are not lost but sustained.

“Let us carry forward the spirit of this initiative to build stronger institutions, promote transparency and secure a better future for our state and for Nigeria,” Osagie said.

Also speaking, the Anambra Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Sylvia Ifemeje said that the SAGNI campaign has laid the foundation for a more opened and responsible civil service.

Represented by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ngozi Iwouno, the Attorney-General noted that the state government is committed to ensuring that secrecy has no place in the state public service.

She said, “We recognise that while the FOI Act provides the legal framework for citizens to access public information, its true impact is determined by its domestication and implementation at the sub-national level.

“We are working to institutionise FOI compliance across all our MDAs. This includes providing targeted trainings to public officials on the importance of proactive disclosure and the legal consequences of wrongful denial of information.

“We are working to change the mindsets from one of secrecy to one of service, demonstrating that transparency is not a threat but a shield that protects public trust and integrity.”

She expressed confidence that with continued collaboration, Nigeria will build a society where citizens have the information, they need to hold their leaders accountable and participate fully in the democratic process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was implemented in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Anambra and Edo with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), a programme funded by the European Union through International IDEA.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu

CODE seeks more resources to scale up accountability campaigns
General News

CODE seeks more resources to scale up accountability campaigns

By Perpetua Onuegbu

Connected Development (CODE), a civic organisation, has appealed for more resources from its partners to expand its transparency and accountability work.

Mr Hamzat Lawal, Founder and Chief Executive of CODE, made the call on Monday in Abuja at the inauguration of the group’s new leadership, an event that also marked its 13th anniversary.

Lawal was recently awarded the Chevening Scholarship for a Master’s in Governance, Development, and Public Policy at the University of Sussex.

He appointed Mr Mukhtar Modibbo as Secretary-General of Follow The Money International and Ms Hyeladzira Mshelia as Acting Chief Executive Officer of CODE.

He said scaling resources was vital to deepen impact, noting that CODE campaigns in education, health and gender were reaching underserved communities across Nigeria.

“Thirteen years ago, I stood in a small room with nothing but an idea — a burning passion and determination to save lives. That idea became the Save Bagega campaign, which forced government action on lead poisoning in Zamfara and secured $5.3 million for remediation,” he recalled.

According to him, that experience inspired the creation of CODE, which has since driven campaigns such as the Not Too Young to Run movement and the COVID-19 Transparency and Accountability Project (CTAP).

Lawal urged the new leadership to surpass his achievements by unlocking fresh funding and building stronger campaigns, with support from the media.

In his remarks, Modibbo pledged to strengthen Follow The Money initiatives, including a new Citizen Neighbourhood Watch designed to help Nigerians track local government spending.

“We don’t go to courts. We empower citizens with data and tools to track government projects,” he said.

On her part, Mshelia promised to prioritise gender-based and vulnerable community initiatives.

“You will continue to see more programmes targeted at the empowerment of women and girls, alongside men,” she added. (NAN)

Edited by Uche Anunne

Trust, accountability key to success in management – Ex-Naval Chief
General News

Trust, accountability key to success in management – Ex-Naval Chief

By Rukayat Moisemhe

A military strategist, Retired Rear Admiral Babalola Egbedina has stressed the importance of building trust and accountability in management, particularly in decentralised command within divisional structures.

He said this on Thursday at the 2025 Nigerian Institute of Management Chartered (NIM) awards, fellows and spouses’ day luncheon in Lagos.

The event was themed: “Building Trust and Accountability: “The Human Element of Decentralised Command within Divisional Structures”.

Egbedina listed strategies for building trust and accountability in decentralised systems to include clear communication, well-defined roles, autonomy with oversight, regular feedback, performance monitoring, among others.

He noted that the divisional system as practised in the Nigerian Navy offered advantages.

The advantages, according to him, include enhanced operational efficiency, leadership development, improved personnel welfare, flexibility, innovation, and clear accountability.

He also highlighted the central role of the human element in management.

 

Egbedina said that while technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) provided valuable tools, they could not replace the originality and uniqueness of the human element in organisations.

 

According to him, focusing on personal welfare and development within divisions directly improves efficiency, while also fostering leadership skills and stronger team cohesion.

 

The expert urged managers to remain informed and broaden their perspectives by reading quality publications and engaging with diverse sources of knowledge.

 

“No matter the allure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) possesses, it cannot replace the originality and uniqueness of the human element in the organisation.

 

“As for managers, they should stay perpetually informed by reading quality publications and anything else you can lay your hands on to broaden their perspectives,” he said.

NIM President , Retired Commodore Abimbola Ayuba, charged the newly inducted fellows not to be contented with just adding the appellation (FNIM) to their names.

He said it was a call to higher responsibility and service to the institute, the management profession and the nation.

 

Ayuba said for fellows to avail the institute with their professional competencies, they had been constituted into sectoral groups.

 

“The faculties are expected to identify issues and challenges in areas related to their disciplines, propose studies of such issues with a view to making policy recommendations to government,” he said.

 

Ayuba also lauded the institute’s elder statesmen and women conferred with life membership award for keeping faith with the institute over the years.

 

He said to qualify for the award, a member must have attained the age of 70, served the institute and the Nigerian Society selflessly and adjudged to be above reproach, among other obligations.(NAN)

Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Buhari Bolaji

FG inaugurates River Basin boards, urges innovation, accountability
Environment

FG inaugurates River Basin boards, urges innovation, accountability

By Akpan Glory

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has inaugurated the newly appointed Governing Boards and Executive Management Teams of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs).

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja on Friday, Utsev congratulated the appointees and emphasised their role in supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He urged the appointees to prioritise performance, integrity, and innovation by setting clear strategic directions and fostering collaborative, respectful relationships with executive management to achieve results.

The minister emphasised the importance of ethical leadership, adherence to regulations, and a thorough understanding of the River Basin Act and Water Resources Master Plan.

He stressed that effective management of water resources and the expansion of irrigated farming are key to achieving national food security.

“Appointees have been urged to fully understand the ethical rules and regulations guiding public office in order to promote integrity, accountability, and respect in their conduct.

“They are also expected to familiarise themselves with the River Basin Act, the Water Resources Master Plan, and relevant policies to help shape strategic direction and introduce innovative ideas that will transform the sector.

“Furthermore, the Federal Government emphasised the need for a strong commitment to expanding irrigated agriculture across all River Basin Development Authorities, with the goal of supporting all-season farming and enhancing national food production”.

The Minister with the newly appointed Board Chairmen of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities

Utsev also highlighted ongoing initiatives, such as the partial commercialisation of RBDAs and youth empowerment programmes, aimed at boosting food production, creating jobs, and reducing poverty.

He encouraged the new leadership to explore alternative funding sources and public-private partnerships to enhance financial sustainability.

“As a strategic extension of the ministry, you must uphold high standards to deliver on national priorities. Synergy, innovation, and commitment will be crucial to your success,” the minister said.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Richard Pheelangwah, described the induction retreat organised for the board members as crucial in repositioning the sector for national development.

Pheelangwah congratulated the appointees and stressed the need for strategic leadership, collaboration, and financial discipline to achieve core mandates in food security, irrigation, clean water access, and rural development.

The Minister with the newly appointed MDs of River Basin Development Authorities .

He noted that the retreat would foster synergy and deepen governance understanding, urging participants to align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.

Abubakar Malam, Managing Director of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, responded on behalf of all 12 River Basin Managing Directors and management teams.

He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for their appointments as key actors in the nation’s food security and rural development efforts.

Malam also praised Utsev for his leadership and acknowledged the support of the ministry’s permanent secretary and directors.

He reaffirmed the river basins’ commitment to promoting food security, rural development, and economic empowerment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, the agencies’ collective role in grassroots transformation through agriculture, infrastructure, and poverty reduction will strengthen the sector.

Malam assured stakeholders that the river basins would work collaboratively to fulfil their mandates and justify the confidence placed in them. (NAN)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

PPDC canvasses digital procurement processes, unveils strategic framework
General News

PPDC canvasses digital procurement processes, unveils strategic framework

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

An NGO, Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), has called for digitalisation of procurement processes to enhance accountability and transparency in procurement governance.

The PPDC Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Lucy Abagi, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja, at the presentation of the PPDC 2024-2028 Strategy Document, titled: `Leveraging Citizen Power for Sustainable Future’.

Abagi said that civil society organisations (CSOs) should not be the primary drivers of procurement processes, saying that government ownership was crucial.

She said that the government should provide regular updates on the use of taxpayers’ money and procurement processes.

According to her, the PPDC has been supporting government’s transparency for the past 22 years.

Abagi said that the NGO’s project, Transparency for Citizen Engagement, was aimed at leveraging citizens’ power for a sustainable future.

She further stated that the project was being implemented in three states: Kaduna, Ekiti and Adamawa to enhance accountability and transparency in the states’ procurement processes.

The chief executive officer said for more transparency in governance, there was the need for state procurement audits, contracting processes and annual reporting on government policies and practices.

“Procurement portals have been developed for the three states, with Kaduna and Ekiti using them efficiently.

“The portals provide detailed information on contractors, contract awards, jurisdictions and timelines.

“The portals also allow citizens to track contractor selection criteria and project monitoring criteria,’’ she said.

Abagi, however, said that observations showed gaps in procurement processes in spite of some progress, with abandoned and poorly executed projects.

She, therefore, called for transparency and accountability in government procurement to prevent project duplication and ensure contractor accountability.

The chief executive officer also urged the government to lead in procurement processes, open government partnerships and open contracting and funding to build capacity for managing procurement portals.

Also speaking, the Advocacy Officer, West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network, Mr Austin Aigbe, said that corruption was the greatest challenge to the Nigerian state, with procurement being a significant loophole.

Aigbe underscored the importance of citizens’ participation in holding the government accountable for procurement fraud.

He said that eradicating procurement fraud would result in significant savings for the country.

The advocacy officer particularly cited the example of vehicle procurement where funds were repeatedly allocated but not used, leading to repeated expenditures.

According to him, procurement fraud ultimately leads to suffering by members of the public, as funds intended for public projects are diverted.

Aigbe, therefore, called on Nigerians to actively follow the procurement process and hold the government accountable through the PPDC strategy and online portals. (NAN)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

PPDC, ministry of justice seek compliance with FOI Act
General News

PPDC, ministry of justice seek compliance with FOI Act

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) and the Federal Ministry of Justice have urged private and public institutions to actively comply with the principles of Freedom of Information Act for more accountability.

The actors made the call during a roundtable engagement on the submission of the compliance reports on Freedom of Information (FOI) Act by public institutions in Abuja.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, PPDC, Lucy Abagi, said that the event was organised to promote transparency and accountability in governance by ensuring compliance with the Act.

Abagi said that the Act had remained a democratic instrument empowering citizens with the right to public information and fostering a culture of openness.

According to her, FOI has played an official role in social accountability, reducing corruption and promoting public trust in government institutions.

She said over the last 10 years, PPDC had been pioneering the FOI ranking, adding that for every year, it tried to assess the proactive disclosure of ministries, departments and agencies with the FOI Act.

Abagi said although progress had been made, challenges still persisted in achieving full compliance with the Act by public institutions.

“We’ve also identified a lot of gaps; you know, when you are dealing with the government, there’s always some level of transfers that happens with officers to different agencies or to different states.

“So there’s a lot of capacity gaps, one of which is for the FOI desk officers to respond to the FOI Act requests by citizens or other organisations to actually know where monies are going to and what those monies are being used for.

“So this training, in partnership with the ministry of justice, is to begin to identify areas of gaps and challenges that need to be filled across over 150 public institutions.

“We are hoping that governments are not just spending money on the budget, or are not just easily funding without accountability.

“We want to ensure that our procurement process is right; we want to ensure that there is transparency; we want to ensure that there is reduced corruption,” she said.

Abagi also encouraged all stakeholders to consider the training as an opportunity to address challenges, share experiences and explore innovative ways of strengthening compliance.

According to her, transparency is not just a legal requirement, it is a responsibility that promotes trust and drives sustainable growth in the society.

“We are dedicated to advancing procurement transparency and improving citizens’ access to information,” she added.

Earlier, the Head of Freedom of Information Unit, ministry of justice, Mr Garuba Godwin, while giving an overview of the FOI Act, said it was applicable to all MDAs.

Godwin said that the Act also applied to private institutions utilising public funds; hence the need for both government and private institutions to comply with its principles.

He said that with the establishment of the Act, no public document would become secret officially, saying that every Nigerian citizen had the right to access information from public documents.

“Last year, we had about 91 public institutions that complied with the release of government information.

“The honorable minister of justice has taken administrative action to ensure that this year, if not half of the total number of the public institutions we have in this country, we should have a majority of them complying.

“Last year, we engaged about 100, and this year, we are engaging about 300; so they have come to the knowledge that government activities are no longer secret.

“Citizens should have access to exactly what the government is doing, and if you look at the presidency, the president also came out to hold ministers and heads of MDAs accountable for their activities,” he said.

Godwin, however, said that access to government information records was not in all circumstances, as there were some exemptions to the Act.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was organised by the centre, in collaboration with the ministry of justice, with the support of MacArthur Foundation. (NAN)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

AGF urges transparency, accountability in governance
Economy/Business

AGF urges transparency, accountability in governance

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein, has called for transparency and accountability to be entrenched across all tiers and aspects of governance in Nigeria.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Mr Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF).

Madein spoke at the 2024 National Council on Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) in Bauchi.

According to her, transparency and accountability must extend beyond finances to include other resources, such as human and material assets.

“Transparency does not end with finances; it extends even to the storekeeper and those managing the kitchen,” she said.

She emphasised the need to account for infrastructure and other resources, stating, “Everything that can be used indiscriminately must be properly accounted for in a transparent manner”.

Madein warned that restricting transparency and accountability solely to financial management would result in a haphazard system.

“We need to build serious control measures around our assets,” she added, stressing that public officials must account for assets procured with public funds.

She also noted the importance of continuous capacity building and workforce motivation, describing them as essential for ensuring effective management of public assets.

Madein advised governments to adopt fiscal discipline and appropriate control measures while fostering a culture of savings and viable investments.

“When funds are released to increase government assets, those assets must be accounted for by those handling them.

“Savings is good, and saving during times of plenty is advisable. Governments at all levels should save so they can have something to fall back on in adverse situations”.

The 2024 NACOFED, hosted by the Bauchi State Government, preceded the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting for November, where N1.411 trillion was shared among the Federal Government, states, and local councils. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Asset tracking, valuation, crucial for accountability -AGF
Economy/Business

Asset tracking, valuation, crucial for accountability -AGF

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

The Accountant- General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein, says tracking and valuation of all Federal Government assets is necessary for accountability.

Madein said this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

She spoke against the backdrop of the Asset Tracking and Management Programme organised by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).

According to Madein, asset is the real bedrock of the nation, which needs to be properly valued and accounted for.

“The Federal Government has been spending money over time acquiring, constructing, and providing assets. These assets are the real value of the country.

”Currently, Nigeria has about N32 trillion negative net asset that is usually recorded as liability,” she said.

She said that since the adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in 2017, it became imperative to include the valuation of national assets in the annual financial statements of the country.

“This has influenced public sector accounting standards in Nigeria and the strategic role of legacy assets in the adoption of IPSAS.

”Legacy assets refer to existing assets acquired or constructed prior to the adoption of IPSAS in 2017.

”The inability to collate, evaluate, and place value on the assets of the Federal Government has constantly been throwing the financial position of the country into net liabilities.

“This makes the liabilities of the Federal Government to be over and above its assets,” she said.

She said that the stakeholders had now agreed to build a national assets register to accommodate all Federal Government assets.

She listed the assets to include buildings, offices, schools, hospitals, roads, equipment, and even biological assets.

“Investors, donors, and international organisations partnering with the Federal Government will like to see our true value as enumerate in our annual financial statement,” the AGF said.

She described the OAGF as the treasury office of the Federal Government responsible for collating financial information that leads to the preparation of financial statements.

She said that including the valuation of assets in the annual financial statements was one of the key values that the statement is required to possess. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

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