Freedom of Information: An All Merit Affair

We live in a world where information is considered as a right to people. Hence, every human has the right to know what obtains in their world or immediate environment. Looking back in time, when the COVID-19 Virus broke out from a laboratory in Wuhan China, the World Health Organization was not going to make a public address on the issue, the organization wanted to keep it secret but when it became a turn in the flesh of the organization, they had to spit it out.

From the above, you can deduce that keeping information from the citizens of a state is a breach of the code of humanity. Humanity deserves to know things that affect them negatively so that they can be guided on how to go about, keeping safe. And on the other hand, foster support to make life comfortable for self.

It is, however, the duty of the government to ensure that information is not kept from citizens. It was because of this that the Nigerian government through the legislative arm of government, promoted and enacted the Freedom of Information Bill. We all know that though this law exists, we must not forget that it has its restrictions in application terms. Some of the reasons why information should not be kept from the reach of the citizens are as follows.

Decision-Making Process

Individuals are accountable to the government and vice-versa. Hence, when information is at the disposal of the citizen, there will be no claim of ignorance when making a decision. A typical example is thy during the advertisement for tobacco products, there is this popular saying that: Tobacco Smokers are liable to die young. This is the power of information. It gives the citizens first-hand information on critical issues bordering on health, consumption, education, business, politics and whatnot. Hence, information shouldn't be kept incline destine from the citizens.

Accountability

A responsible government is accountable to her citizens. This goes a long way in determining whether a government is legitimate or otherwise. Any government that must get acceptance and recognition from the citizens must be open and operate such policies that are homely and people-oriented.
Since accountability is one of the.major cores of governance, it is then a legal frontline to citizens or the less to know what measures or step the government is taking to protect, proffer, design, manage, control or abolish what will have adverse or negative effect on the people.

Abuse of Power

Every human is a political animal and has the tendency to use power for self-aggrandizement. This is the reason why power is transitional. Whoever is in power today may not be there tomorrow. Hence, when one attains a position of authority, he has to be open as much as possible, making even his political enemies know the moves he is making. Anything good does not need to be hidden.
Only negative actions may want to remain secret. In the real sense, there is nothing hidden that will not be in the limelight, why then should we betray the trust of the led and jeopardize the essence of why we occupy an office in the first place?

Criticism

In a democratic state, the opposition is allowed to criticize. This is the beauty of democracy. It is an integral part of the democratic government process that the ruling government has the responsibility to make public all programmes of the ruling government. This is to allow for appraisal. And to know if the government is popular among the electorates.

Criticism is one way through which the people engages the government. A government that does not give out information through which the voters can assess them is not legitimate and democratic. Such a government may be said to be autocratic which is totally different from democracy where the voice of the people are heard.

From the above, one can deduce that information to the electorates does not in any way breach any governmental principle.

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