National Daily

NACCIMA urges Senate to ratify FOI bill

…Implores Fashola to curb flooding

By ANDREW OJIEZEL

AGAIN, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), NACCIMA has urged Senate to reconsider its stand on Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, and sign it into law. Calling on the National Assembly to reconsider its stand on the FOI bill, NACCIMA stated that the purpose of freedom of information legislation is to increase the openness and transparency of government.

The association said “we know that if people understand the issue of FOI better, we could build a national consensus in favour of reform, given the fact that the Freedom of Information legislation is essential to reverse the rather poor image of the nation.”
“While not unaware how difficult it is in the eyes of the public office holders, but we believe that they will only begin to be convinced that freedom of information legislation is inevitable to earn credibility and respect among comity of nations. The critical turning point in the process would be the passing of this FOI Bill into an Act.

We wish to state that the FOI is aimed at increasing the openness, transparency and accountability in governance. It is a welcome initiative so it will become even more appreciated if the Committee in deliberating on the Bill, will take into due cognisance our informed recommendations, as well as, comments made on the Bill, which are both in the overall interest of the business community and the citizenry.

Finally, the most urgent problem in the short term is the passage of the Bill now before the National Assembly without further delay. We have no doubt that the passage of this much desired Bill will bring about transformation of governance in Nigeria.
In another development, NACCIMA has appealed to Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), to rescue its complex and its environs, the Ikeja GRA. According to the Public Relations Officer of the organisation, Abiodun Awogbemi, told the National Daily that the flooding was due to some buildings that were constructed on flooding canals by some companies.

It was noted that 48 hours after rain fall last week, workers of the complex have to use vessels to bail out the water that flooded the entire ground floor of the building.