… Commit To Successful Implementation Of FOIA –

Joel Ajayi

The National Youth Service Corps has said it will not relent in complying with the provisions of the freedom of Information Act,as well as put measures in place to entrench transparency and accountability in the day-to-day running of the Scheme.

The Scheme equally said that its leaving no stone unturned to ensure successful implementation of freedom of Information Act in the country. 

The Director General of National Youth Service Corps NYSC Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim gave this assurance on Tuesday, in Abuja at the opening ceremony of 2020 edition of NYSC’s FOIA Desk Officers training workshop, saying that, the Scheme, among all MDAs, has the highest number of FOIA Schedule Officers. 

The workshop that is designed for the Desk Officers to update their knowledge and their skills to enable them work effectively and efficiently in discharge of their duty with the theme; “Boosting Government’s Fight against Corruption through the Freedom of Information Act”.

According to him, NYSC has remained committed to the successful implementation of the FOI Act since it came into effect in 2011 in compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the domestication of the Act by all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“Another mark of our commitment is the fact that, among all MDAs, NYSC has the highest number of FOIA Schedule Officers as could be seen in the roll call of participants in this workshop.

“This, coupled with our effective feedback mechanism, ensures prompt response to FOI requests and timely rendition of annual reports to the Federal Ministry of Justice over the years.

“Therefore, I implore you to build on the successes recorded through greater dedication to your duties as Desk Officers and to assist Management in sensitizing other members of Staff to continue to adhere to the work ethics of probity and accountability.”

DG therefore lauded the commitment and resourcefulness of the Desk Officers as well as the entire workforce of the Scheme, which contributed immensely to the modest heights NYSC have attained so far urged them to intensify efforts in the discharge of their duties in order to achieve the Scheme’s target of becoming the leading agency in FOIA compliance.” 

Associate Professor Brigadier General Ibrahim however, charged FOIA Desk officer to ensure knowledge that will be imparted in them be used for effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery.

However, the NYSC Boss, also reiterated that NYSC Management would resist any attempt to threaten the integrity of the Scheme’s operations and processes, including the mobilization, deployment, relocation and posting of Corps Members, adding that the Scheme remains committed to protecting the lives Corps Members. 

In her welcome addressed the PPR of the Mr Adenike Adeyemi said that the FOIA desk officers workshop is designed to for Scheme’s Desk Officers to update their knowledge and skill to enable them work effectively and efficiently in discharge their duty. 

“NYSC FOIA Desk Officers’ Workshop has become a yearly event in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2011, which prescribed continuous training and retraining of Desk Officers for optimal performance.

She said the Scheme has established FOIA Community Development Service groups in all its formations nationwide who engage in sensitizing members of the public on their rights under the Act.

“Recently, the FOIA CDS group in Ebonyi State was at the PRESCO High School, Abakaliki, where they sensitized the students on the FOI Act and the need to seek information from credible sources”.

“The Gombe State FOIA CDS group did same at the Government Day Secondary Secondary School, Army Barracks in Gombe and was also at the National Orientation Agency Gombe, to seek collaboration to facilitate a wider reach for their awareness campaign”, Adeyemi said.

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