By Kelechi david
The National Orientation Agency, NOA, Ekiti State Directorate has organised a round table discussion on “Promoting Transparency, Accountability and Stewardship, Governance And Application of Freedom of Information Act.
The programme which took place at the NUJ Press Center Oke Bareke, Ado-Ekiti had Journalists from NOA chapel and other chapels in attendance
Delivering his opening speech, the NOA State Director, Mr. M.B. Fadahunsi noted that information is power, hence no one was permitted to keep information that should be of public interest to himself
The Desk Officer of FOI in NOA, Mr Gbenga Akinyemi said that the FOI Act should supercede the oath of secrecy whenever public interest is concerned, the Correspondence Chapel Chairman, Mr Victor Ogunje, who represented Ekiti NUJ Chairman, Mr Rotimi Ojomoyela opined that full application of FOI was long overdue, saying it should be used to promote transparency, accountability and good governance.
He said information was paramount and must be given as it is, without fear or favour for democracy to thrive and encourage peaceful co-existence that downplays insinuation.
The Guest Speaker, who is a Deputy Director Programmes, NOA, Ekiti State Mr Akin Adeyemi dwelled on the FOI Act and how it related to good governance,the meaning of FOI, who can ask for information, where to ask for information, protection of officers giving and seeking for information, types of information that can be asked for and what the law says about FOI
Mr.Adeyemi expressed his displeasure on how the fOI act was being handled in the country, saying,it was enacted since 2011 but yet to be effective,
He implored all information disseminators to get themselves aquinted of the act to further enhance their output
