By Edetaen Ojo[1] In a recent ruling, his lordship, Justice Gabriel O. Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja suggested that the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 was somehow defective because it provides in Section 1(2) that an applicant seeking information from a public institution should not be required …

A Federal High Court judge sitting in Abuja, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, has called on the National Assembly to amend the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 to prevent persons who do not need information for specific reasons from applying for such information. The judge said the Act at present had created …

Tuesday, July 23, 2013: Three Nigerian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), today called on the Federal Government and its relevant agencies to take urgent steps to comply with the eligibility requirements of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a global initiative launched on 20 September 2011 to secure concrete commitments from governments to …

As part of the ongoing constitution review process, both Chambers of the National Assembly have produced separate draft amendments to the 1999 Constitution. The draft amendments follow hundreds of memoranda submitted by individuals and interest groups as well as a series of public hearings conducted at the national level and …

The Washington D. C based Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), is calling for entries for its 2013 photo contest. The contest is aimed at highlighting stand-out photography from amateurs and professionals around the world depicting poverty alleviation and transformation through financial inclusion. CGAP is looking for original, striking …

The Pan African Parliament (PAP) has adopted a declaration to launch a campaign with the theme “Press Freedom for Development and Governance: Need for Reform” in all five Regions of Africa.  The Parliament also decided to establish an annual “PAP Award on Media Freedom in Africa” for individuals, organizations and Member …

Inter-Media Research and Consulting Europe (IRCE) and FOJO Media Institute (FOJO) have published online, an in-depth report on the challenges and training needs of exiled media practitioners. The purpose of the report is to assess the status and professional, ethical quality of work output of FOJO’s exiled media partners. The …

The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX)  on June 27, 2013 released its latest Africa Media Sustainability Index (MSI). IREX found out that traditional media still remains the preferred source of news. By “sustainability” IREX refers to the ability of media to play its vital role as the “fourth estate.” …

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on June 27, 2013 adopted a landmark new treaty that boosts access to books for the benefit of hundreds of millions of people who are blind, visually impaired and print-disabled. The treaty, approved after more than a week of intense debate among negotiators gathered …

The International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) and of its members, the Human Rights Network for Journalists, Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda), have protested against violations of freedom of expression and assembly in Uganda. In a letter dated June 6, 2013 to President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, the IFEX members pointed out its …