Bukola Afeni
Stakeholders in the security and defence sector has called for harmonization of laws to enhance transparency in the system.
The group noted that personal interests and self-serving mindsets perpetuate a culture of secrecy, restricting public access to information and hindering efficient external oversight of the defence and security sector.
The participants made the disclosure at a two-day stakeholders dialogue on addressing contradictory provisions in the Freedom of Information Act and Official Secrets Act in defence/security information in Enugu State.
The event, organized by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) in collaboration with Transparency International – Defence and Security Programme, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
The event brought together security agencies, civil society, youth networks, and the media.
In a communiqué was signed by Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Executive Director, CISLAC/TI-Nigeria, Chineye Godwin of ICYE, and Alex Chinaemere of Civil Society Steering Committee, the participants observed that contradictory and outdated legal provisions, as well as poorly adopted laws, impede efforts to achieve information disclosure in the sector.
In the same vein , they highlighted that poor understanding of fundamental human rights among citizens hampers information application and public demand for transparency and accountability.
” Non-disclosure and over-classification of information by defence and security agencies constitute major threats to transparency and accountability
” Deliberate information blockage, administrative bottlenecks, and artificially created complexities in financial, procurement, and personnel systems hinder public access to information and adequate oversight”.
The stakeholders also observed that contradictory and outdated legal provisions, as well as poorly adopted laws, impede efforts to achieve information disclosure in the sector.
The stakeholders also pledged commitment to maintaining regular interface with defence and security agencies, deepening cooperation and collaboration for improved external oversight.
“They also called for sustainable civil-military relationships through trust-building to boost access to bilateral information sharing for improved transparency and accountability.”
