FGN, EU, IPC, MRA ENDS TWO DAY WORKSHOP FOR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS ON FOI

Oru Leonard

Two-day workshop for FOI Desk Officers of Public Institutions on the establishment of a Freedom of Information online engagement Forum/Platform ended today.

The programme organised by the International Press Centre (IPC), in collaboration with Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the Freedom of Information Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice, was supported by the *European Union (EU)* and implemented under Component 4b: Support
to the media of the *EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria* (EU-SDGN) Project.

The workshop is with the theme, “Facilitating Shared Learning, Experience Sharing and Best Practice Application in the Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011. 

The event provided interface and engagement for over 60 participants drawn from among FOI Desk Officers of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Abuja, towards building a collaborative mechanism among the FOI Desk Officers to deepen strategies for ensuring effective implementation of the FOI Act as well as ensuring improved compliance with proactive publications and others obligations of Public Institutions under the FOI Act.

The European Union called on the Federal Government to enforce the Freedom of Information Act in all public institutions to reinforce legitimacy in governance by addressing sustainable development challenges and democracy deficits.

The organisation said it became necessary because of the lack of access to public information.

The demand was made by the representative of EU Delegation to Nigeria and Head of Section, Democracy, Governance, and Migration, Mr. Clement Boutillier,