The Schedule Desk Officer Of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Mrs Catherine Otemuyiwa, has enlightened the 202l Batch B, Stream 2 Corps members on FOIA, it's origin, and how it can be used for their advantage.

The lecture took place at the Multi-purpose hall of the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede, on Wednesday, where she sensitised the Corps Members on the importance of FOIA and how they can leverage on the opportunities that accompany it.

Furthermore, she stated that the FOIA law was signed on the 28th of May 2011. Buttressing her point, she stated that the nucleus of the FOIA is information. She defined the FOIA as the act of making public records available to the public and also granting the public access to the records. She stressed that for every government that wants to experience openness, transparency and accountability which are hallmarks of good governance, it must enshrine the freedom of information law.

Otemuyiwa stated the tenets upon which the freedom of information is hinged, which are: to make public records and information freely available, to give the public the right to access information, to protect some information and to protect whistle blowers, as whistle blowing helps to stamp out corruption.

She also listed some of the 32 sections under FOIA, including access to the records, information about public institutions, request for access to records, time for granting the request of FOIA and some of their exemptions in which certain information such as personal and third party information cannot be released to the public except if the public interest in such records outweighs personal interest or injury which may occur from the release.

In conclusion she encouraged Corps Members to utilize the FOIA and also ensure that the public knows about the act. She also added that Corps Members should enlighten the workers at their Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) about the importance of creating and maintaining good records and also enlighten the community about the importance of FOIA.