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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
A group, Social Action, in conjunction with the Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), supported by the MacArthur Foundation, yesterday, trained stakeholders from various communities in Edo State on the use of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
The aim was to solicit responses from the relevant government agencies saddled with the responsibilities of awarding contracts to contractors with the aim of getting things done appropriately for the good of all.
Speaking on the topic, “Making Request for Information Under the FOI Act” in Benin, President Aigbokhan said for anyone to get a response from any agencies or contractors, using the FOIA, he must stick to the rules of the game, which are identifying the agency, writing to the head of the agency, specifying what you want, writing your name on your request letter and getting it signed.
He said leaving it vague would not help the applicant as lawyers are not magicians but sticking to the rules will do the magic.
Aigbokhan told participants to always get their requests written on paper and not to rely on oral because that could be denied. He said the illiterate and the Persons With Disabilities (PWD) can seek the assistance of a third party to help them write their request while they dictate their thoughts to the person helping them out.
He also told them that while seeking for information under the FOI Act, the court is not the first point of call but the agency, stressing that it is only when the agency or contractor in question refuses that they can approach the court.
He, however, tasked them to be more vigilant because government officials have developed another method of siphoning public funds.
On his part, Omobude Agho, EDOCSO, lamented that most Nigerians did not know how powerful they were because they failed to use the FOIA. He admonished them not to hide, saying that they could not read and write and therefore allow projects awarded to contractors with the taxpayers’ money to go down the drain.
The facilitator, Botti Isaac, while speaking on using the FOI to facilitate Transparency in the Procurement Process and project implementation, queried what some agencies called administrative charges.
