Connected Development (CODE), a leading non-governmental organization advocating transparency and good governance, has urged state governments to establish Front Desk Officers dedicated to implementing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The call was made during a stakeholders’ dialogue on the FOI Act held yesterday in Asaba, Delta State, as part of CODE’s nationwide campaign to improve citizens’ access to public information, 14 years after the Act was passed in 2011.

Speaking at the event, CODE’s Programs Officer, Abdulazeez Hussaini, stressed the need for a shared understanding of a recent Supreme Court judgment affirming that the FOI Act applies nationwide, regardless of state-level domestication.

“Historically, states have had varying interpretations of the FOI Act, with some insisting it must be domesticated before implementation. The Supreme Court has now clarified that the Act applies across the federation, eliminating this barrier,” Hussaini said.

He noted that a major obstacle to FOI access at the state level is the absence of dedicated information desks within MDAs. He urged states to proactively appoint FOI Front Desk Officers to receive, process, and track citizens’ requests for information.

Mr. Garuba Godwin, Head of the FOI Unit at the Federal Ministry of Justice, confirmed that the Ministry is collaborating with CODE to ensure the Supreme Court’s decision is implemented effectively.

“Although the FOI Act has been in existence for 14 years, its implementation is still a struggle in many MDAs, especially at the state level,” Godwin said, adding that state Attorneys General should oversee the institutionalization of FOI desks.

Participants at the dialogue agreed that proper FOI implementation requires both legal support and simplified procedures for citizens to submit and follow up on requests—an effort they said would boost transparency, accountability, and public trust.