Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of a State High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara state, has fixed August 10, 2020, for the hearing of a suit filed by a civil society organisation, Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, against the Kwara state government over alleged non-compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2011.
Olasupo Abideen, the organisation’s coordinator told newsmen, on Wednesday, that they seek to achieve transparency in public sector spending, especially by the government.
He said, “There won’t be any transparency and accountability if budget line items and clarifications are shrouded in secrecy and that is the reason why we have been making this demand.”
Recall that the Kwara State Ministry of Finance and Planning had refused to grant the request of the organisation for the breakdown of N8.889bn health sector spending in the third quarter of 2019, breakdown of how the Governor’s office spent N2.451bn and a breakdown of the N1.195bn ministry of works spending; among others.
A copy of the letter obtained by THE INFORMANT247 reads, “Please take notice that should the Ministry refuse to grant our request despite this appeal, within the above-stipulated ultimatum, we shall not hesitate to approach the Federal High Court to seek appropriate reliefs against the Ministry, having regards to Sections 2 (6), 20 and 25 of the Act.”