Mamora, varsity head task media practitioners on FOI law

FORMER Senate Minority leader, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, has urged the media to use the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to reduce corruption in government agencies and institutions.He emphasised that the Act should be used as a tool to build and strengthen transparency and accountability in governance at the three tiers of government in the country.Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede yesterday urged civil society organisations and the media to enhance the workability of the (FoI) Act.He therefore admonished civil society organizations and the media to mobilise the public to make the law achieve its purposes.Oloyede said this in Ilorin at the launching and investiture organised by the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State chapter.Mamora who was the guest speaker at the Rivers State's Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) 2011 Press week stated this on Monday in a paper he delivered in Port-Harcourt titled 'Freedom of Information Act: The role of the media in national development.'He stressed that with the Act, it was now possible for the media and members of the public to bring to light any unsavoury behaviour in public service in the country.He explained that the delay in the passage of the Act was due to fears entertained in some quarters that the media would be given too much powers to probe the activities of those in government.He added: 'That the Act is fully explored by the media and other interested persons into the workings of government can assist to ensure the restoration of efficient and effective service delivery in public service.
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