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Alert

ARTICLE 19 calls for immediate enactment of Freedom of Information Bill

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 31 January 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Nigeria: ARTICLE 19 calls for immediate enactment of Nigeria's Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill

ARTICLE 19 has called for immediate enactment of Nigeria's Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill ahead of national elections scheduled for April 2007.

In a just released statement, the Director of the Africa Programme, John Barker, expressed eagerness to get to the finish line with enacting Nigeria's FOI Bill into law:

"This has been six years in the making. We want to build on the momentum gained in November 2006 when the Senate passed its version," said Barker.

Nigeria is holding both national and presidential elections in April 2007. A much awaited consolidation of the House and Senate Bills into a text that can then be sent to the Executive Branch for signature has been long in coming.

"Further delay may mean retracing our steps with a new President and new members of the National Assembly come May 2007," said Barker, "The consolidation needs to happen promptly to expedite the President signing the Bill before leaving office."

ARTICLE 19 calls upon the Nigerian House of Representatives and the Senate to come to terms on Bills and promptly move on consolidation. Upon National Assembly action, ARTICLE 19 strongly urges President Olusegun Obasanjo to sign a Freedom of Information law with immediate effect.

To view a copy of the statement, go to http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/nigeria-foi-bill-statement.pdf

ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works around the world to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees free speech.