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By Olayiwola Ibrahim/LAGOS// The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has hailed the recent landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, affirming the applicability of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011 to all tiers of government, including state institutions.
This monumental triumph for transparency, accountability, and participatory democracy in Nigeria overturns the 2018 ruling of the Court of Appeal.
In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society organization described the judgment as a long-deserved victory for the Nigerian people.
It reinforces the constitutional right of citizens to access public records and demand explanations from their leaders.
The judgment represents a decisive step toward deepening democratic governance and ensuring that the dividends of democracy reach all Nigerians through openness and accountability, Suraju stated.
HEDA commends the Supreme Court for its bold and progressive interpretation of the law. The ruling dismantles the excuse by state institutions that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to them due to the absence of state-enacted versions.
This judgment signals the end of opacity in state-level governance, empowering every Nigerian to hold government agencies accountable.
The anti-corruption organization further urges pressure groups, civil society actors, journalists, and citizens to judiciously use the FOI Act in demanding transparency in public administration.
“This decision must not be celebrated in theory alone, it must spark renewed vigor in civic activism and institutional oversight, especially at the sub-national level.
This ruling validates the decade-long advocacy of civil society organizations championing open governance despite institutional resistance. Suraju maintained.
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