FOI Bill: The Ball is now firmly in Jonathan's Court

Elombah.com

25 May 201

FOI Bill: The Ball is now firmly in Jonathan's Court

With the Nigeria Senate on Tuesday passing the harmonised version of the Freedom of Information Bill, the ball is now firmly on the court of President Goodluck Jonathan to fulfil his campaign promise to Nigerians. The Senate on Tuesday passed the the Freedom of Information Bill, reducing the weight of the penalty for destroying or falsifying public records by any public officer.

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, has urged  Speedy Transmission of FOI Bill to President for Assent. Advocates of freedom of information and open government in Nigeria in a statement made available to elombah.com welcomed yesterday's passage by both Chambers of the National Assembly of the Harmonised version of the FOI bill. 

Chairman of the Conference Committee, Senator Ayogu Eze, said with the passage of the harmonised version, it would be sent to the President for his signature.

He said he believed that the bill would be signed into law before the end of the current dispensation, which expires this week. “I will be surprised if the bill returns to the National Assembly not signed by the President,” he said.