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MRA inducts FRC into hall of shame for operating in secrecy

By Kayode Bello
16 January 2018   |   4:12 am
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has accused the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) of operating in secrecy contrary to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has accused the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) of operating in secrecy contrary to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

It, therefore, inducted the FRC it into its FOI Hall of Shame.

The group stated this yesterday in a statement in Lagos, accusing the FRC of failing to comply with its core obligations under the FOI Act.

MRA’s Legal Officer, Morisola Alaba, said: “It is astonishing and incredible that rather than seize the opportunity that the FOI Act provides the commission to strengthen its functions and responsibilities and ensure transparency in its operations.

“It has ignored both its establishment Act and other laws enacted to ensure transparency, accountability and ultimately good governance in Nigeria.”

She stressed that the commission has failed to publish the various categories of information required of the Commission.

Alaba also chided the FRC for failing to designate an officer to whom all FOI requests should be sent.

She noted that the commission was established to disseminate standard practices including international good practice that would result in greater efficiency in the allocation and management of public expenditure, revenue collection, debt control and transparency in fiscal matters.

She observed that the commission has disregarded Section 29 (1) and (2) of the FOI Act and the guidelines for the FRC, which stipulate reporting to the Minister of Justice on the implementation of the Act.

It, therefore, called on relevant oversight institutions to compel the FRC to comply with the FOI Act and ensure that the commission and institutions covered by the Act fully implement their obligations under the Law.

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