Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, has commended both Houses of the National Assembly for passing the Freedom of Information Bill, FoI, saying it is a significant development in the quest for accountability and transparency in public service and, by extension, good governance.

A statement by NPAN President, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, said with the passage of the bill in the final days of this administration, and preparation for the inauguration of another, it is likely to set the tone for a new thinking in government and the entire public service that the old order is set to change.

According to the statement, “certainly, it is a major impetus to the efforts at combating corruption; one which is likely to empower all the appropriate groups and processes in their monitoring and whistle-blowing responsibilities.

“Both the Senate and the House of Representatives deserve our commendation and congratulations for this momentous achievement. They will be positively recorded in history for allowing the wishes of the people to over-ride their personal interest expressed in their initial reluctance and opposition to passing the bill.

“For this particular achievement, special mention must be made of the contributions of the Senate President, David Mark, Senators Ndoma-Egba and Smart Adeyemi; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and Representative Abike Dabiri-Erewa, among others.”

-Vanguard

Posted by admin on May 25 2011. Filed under House, Legislature, Senate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry