2019 INTERNATIONAL RIGHT TO KNOW DAY; National Freedom of Information (FOI) Ranking Launched.
Saturday, 28 September 2019, Abuja – As part of activities to celebrate the 2019 International Right to Know Day in Nigeria, Right to Know (R2K) Nigeria in collaboration with Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA) Budgit, Basic Rights Watch (BRW), and Connected Development (CODE) organised and launched the first National FOI ranking.
The maiden edition of this joint Civil Society National FOI ranking, held on the 26th of September 2019 at the Central Bank OF Nigeria (CBN) International Training Institute Abuja. This event was put together ahead of the 28th of September recognized by the United Nations as the International Right to Know Day and celebrated globally by FOI advocates. As part of celebrations, the various CSO FOI assessment and monitoring initiatives were merged into a comprehensive 2019 FOI National ranking with a total of 203 Public Institutions inclusive of the security sector ranked on the following parameters.
a. Proactive Disclosure
b. Responsiveness to request (timeliness)
c. Level of disclosure
d. FOI training
e. FOI Desk Officer (Appointed and disclosed)
f. Annual FOI reporting (Submission and disclosure)
.
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) with a cumulative point of 67.5 got the first place position, while with a tie, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) with 57.5 points each got the second place position. The security sector ranked poorly in the 2019 ranking with Federal Fire Service being ahead with a low point of 22.5.
It is hoped that this National ranking initiative will boost compliance by Public Institutions in Nigeria and encourage an accountable and transparent governance process.