FOI Commission Urges Gov’t to Prioritize FOI Law -Hodges Wants Public Entities Appoint Public Information Officers
Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
By H Matthew Turry
In observance of the International Day of Universal Access to Information, the statutory body responsible for the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) law, the Independent Information Commission (IIC), has called on the government of Liberia through its ministries, agencies, public corporations, commissions and private bodies to adhere to their obligations under the Freedom of Information Laws of Liberia.
Speaking at the ceremony Wednesday, October 2, 2024, the Independent Information Commissioner, Joash T Hodges, asked heads of public entities to appoint or designate one staff to serve as Public Information Officer (PIO) as enshrined in Chapter 3, Section 3.6 of the FOI Act, and establish an Internal Information Request Review Body as required under Chapter 6, Section 6.2 of the FOI Act.
The IIC boss added that to ensure that government information is accessible, inclusive, and transparent empowers people, combats misinformation, and aids in the fight against corruption, government institutions must establish and maintain a regularly updated and widely accessible user-friendly publication scheme (Website and Social Media outlets) as mandated in Chapter 2, Section 2.1 of the FOI Act.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector”, emphasizes the significance of public access to government-held information.
He noted that the Freedom of Information Law of Liberia obligates government ministries, agencies and private entities receiving public resources or performing public functions to uphold their duties of accountability and stewardship.
“The FOI Law is a useful tool in mainstreaming access to information and participation in the public sector to improve government service delivery to public scrutiny, discussions, comments and reviews.
He maintained that public entities should submit FOI Activities Report annually to the Independent Information Commissioner as indicated in Chapter 5, Section 5.3 of the FOI Act.
Giving the appalling state of the Independent Information Commission, Commissioner Hodges said, for the past six (6) years (2018-2023) the IIC suffered low budgetary allotments in the national budget with the sum of US$90,000 for goods and services.
“But out of that discouraging allocation, the commission only received US$48,424.00 aggregating budget outturns from 2018—2023. This low budgetary support over the years have strangulated and as well, seriously paralyzed the Commission’s daily operations, planned programs, including creating nationwide awareness on the public rights to information amongst others
“Disappointingly, the Commission could not meet its international obligation of attending the International Conferences for Information Commissioners (ICIC) and due to consistent absences, Liberia lost her position as Vice Chair of the West Africa Governing Council,” Hodges noted, indicating that due to the ordeal, the IIC was shamefully kicked out of its 10th Street offices because of its inability to settle rental obligations.
While giving some prospects of the Independent Information Commission, under the Boakai administration, the IIC boss narrated said: “After a protracted period of government’s neglect of the Commission, the IIC has seen its appropriation for goods and services in the national budget under this current administration raised from US$8,609.00 in 2023 to US$156,152.00 in 2024.
Disclosing the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has recently approved a total of US$31,000 allotment out of the US$156,152.00 budget to the Commission.
“As we are already in the last quarter of the 2024 budget year, the Commission implores and encourages the MFDP to ensure that its outstanding allotments are approved and received to enables the Commission get the basic office necessities, including furniture, computers, and accessories to enhance both our administrative operation and outreach activities.
He added that the effectiveness of the IIC can be possible when government provides the requisite budgetary support to the Independent Information Commission and when ministries and agencies adhered to their statutory obligation under the FOI Act.
“The value of the FOI law rests in its use and by funding the Commission to carry out its statutory responsibilities under the FOI law and ministries and agencies observing their obligations, that citizen can become empowered to seek and make request for information, by that, the benefits of access to information can be fully enjoyed.
