Urgent Call to Domesticate the FOI Bill in Line with Supreme Court Ruling and Public Demand for Transparency
Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi,
Speaker,
Kwara State House of Assembly,
Kwara State House of Assembly Complex
Ilorin,
Kwara State.
Dear Mr. Speaker,
I write to you with deep respect for your leadership and your historic role in shaping Kwara State’s political trajectory. The 9th and 10th Assembly, under your stewardship, began with an unprecedented promise: youthful energy, swift legislative action, and a commitment to dismantling the culture of opacity that plagued past administrations. Your early reforms—dissolving non-performing local councils and commissions—signalled a bold departure from the past and a stride toward accountability.
Yet a critical issue demands your immediate attention: the Kwara State Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill. This legislation, vital to entrenching transparency and public trust, has languished for years. The Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in *Austin Osakue v. EDOSACA (SC/614/2014)*, which reaffirmed citizens’ right to access government records under the FOI Act, has amplified calls for its domestication in Kwara. The ruling leaves no ambiguity—transparency is not just a moral duty but a legal obligation.
In 2019, this Assembly transmitted the FOI Bill to the Governor, only for progress to stall after minor amendments were requested. Today, concerns about legislative hesitancy and political calculations threaten to derail this crucial accountability tool. A recent commentary, *“Termites Have Eaten the FOI Bill Enough…”* by Ibraheem Abdullateef, now SSA Communication to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq echoes public frustration. The metaphor of “termites” reflects fears of deliberate neglect—a narrative only you can dispel.
Mr. Speaker, speculation abounds that your purported gubernatorial ambitions in 2027 may influence your stance. Some suggest withholding assent could weaken future administrations or appease political interests. While I refrain from endorsing such claims, silence risks eroding public confidence. By championing the FOI Bill, you would reaffirm your commitment to Kwara’s progress and cement your legacy as a leader who prioritizes the people over politics.
Domesticating this bill aligns Kwara with national standards, empowers journalists and civil society to combat corruption, and proves that the slogans “Ó tó gé!” (“It’s enough!”) and “Isẹnlọ” (“Let’s get to work”) are more than rhetoric. Transparency is the bedrock of the trust your administration seeks to restore.
History honours leaders who act courageously. Expediting the FOI Bill’s passage would demonstrate that past delays were procedural, not political. It would equip citizens to hold the government accountable and position Kwara among progressive states like Lagos, Ekiti, and Delta that have enacted FOI laws. You have the chance to emulate President Goodluck Jonathan, whose assent to the federal FOI Act in 2011 transformed governance.
The termites of doubt gnaw at public trust. You hold the remedy. Rally the House, transmit the amended bill to the Governor, and let Kwara become a lighthouse of transparency.
The people are watching. History will judge. Act now!
Yours in the Service of Democracy,
Nu’akofu Uthman Oladimeji
Citizen of Kwara State
