The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, Sunday, debunked a medial report in one of the national dailies that there were ghost corps members, serving with the scheme.
Olawumi refuted the report during the 2015 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Desk Officers’ Training Workshop with the theme: ‘Broadening the Horizon of FOIA Desk Officers for Enhanced Compliance’, in Abuja.
The DG noted that the report might not be unconnected to failure of the newspaper to cross check the information at their disposal or inability to access such information, directing NYSC Desk Officers across the country to always comply with the Act.
“I am imploring you! Please, make information available, if you don’t do that you are giving people opportunity to fill all the gaps with whatever they have,” he directed.
According to him; “With the commitment of the present administration to fighting corruption, promotion of the rule of law and other fundamentals of good governance, the implementation of the FOIA must be given additional impetus not only by the NYSC, but all stakeholders in the Nigerian project.
“It is in furtherance of this that, I seize the opportunity to announce that corps members will be used to enlighten our citizens at the grassroot on their right to seek for information on government policies and their implementation.
“The scheme will liaise with the Federal Ministry of Justice to ensure a quick take-off of this initiative.”
Also speaking, the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relation, Mrs Abosede Aderibigbe said the scheme had demonstrated commitment towards the implementation of FOIA since 2011 when it was signed into law.
This commitment, she clearly said was obvious through the workshop for NYSC Desk Officers, which had been on since 2012 to equip them for optimal performance.
Delivering her paper, the Head, FOI Unit Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Stella Anukam explained that the desire to have a better Nigeria informed the establishment of FOIA.
“The reason for FOIA is to have a better nigeria, it is not a cliche or an old law, it is a tool to promote good governance, to have a better Nigeria. FOIA is a paradigm shift from our old way of doing things. If you know that you have done your work well, then make it available,” she challenged. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com