SAYDi slams repressive clause in Kwara FOI Bill, demands urgent review
The Saving African Youth Dream Initiative (SAYDi) has strongly condemned a controversial provision embedded in the recently passed Kwara State Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill 2025, calling it a direct assault on transparency, accountability, and citizens’ rights.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday by its Communication Lead, Uthman Qasim raised alarm over Section 31(1) and (2) of the bill, which mandates that “no information shall be made available to any applicant without the prior consent of the Governor in writing,” and shields public institutions from liability where “non-compliance… is due to delay in the Governor granting his consent.”
SAYDi described the clause as “anti-democratic and dangerous,” arguing that it fundamentally contradicts the essence of the federal Freedom of Information Act of 2011, which guarantees citizens’ right to access public information without interference or political gatekeeping.
“This clause defeats the very purpose of the FOI Act. It transforms a constitutional right into a privilege controlled by the executive, thereby creating a fertile ground for censorship and impunity,” the statement reads.
The organization reminded authorities that the FOI Act, passed by the National Assembly and affirmed by the Supreme Court, is binding on all states. It mandates all public institutions to provide requested information within seven days, without requiring applicants to justify their requests.
SAYDi urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to withhold assent to the bill until the contentious clause is removed, warning that its retention would set a dangerous precedent and potentially embolden other states to follow suit.
“We call on civil society, the media, and all democratic stakeholders to reject this clause in its entirety. If left unchallenged, it could erode the very foundation of open governance in Nigeria,” the group stated.
