NGO Raises Alarm Over Poor FOI Act Funding In 2026 Budget
FOI Funding Gap Sparks Transparency Concerns
MEDIA Rights Agenda (MRA), a civil society organisation, has raised concerns over what it describes as inadequate funding for the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in the Federal Government’s 2026 budget.
In a statement issued in Lagos, the organisation warned that the funding shortfall could undermine transparency, accountability, and citizens’ right to access public information.
The group’s Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Ayode Longe, said the situation reflects a long-standing pattern of weak financial commitment to the FOI framework across government institutions.
Widespread Absence of Budgetary Provision
According to MRA’s review of the 2026 budget, more than 99 per cent of federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) made no dedicated allocation for FOI implementation.
Out of over 1,300 federal public institutions covered by the Act, only 13 MDAs reportedly made specific provisions for FOI-related activities—representing less than one per cent compliance at budget level.
The total allocation for FOI implementation across these agencies stood at approximately ₦191.1 million, drawn from the ₦58.47 trillion national budget. This, MRA noted, represents about 0.00033 per cent of total federal expenditure.
The organisation described the figure as grossly insufficient to support effective implementation.
Impact on Transparency and Accountability
Longe explained that implementing the FOI Act effectively requires funding for record management systems, staff training, proactive disclosure mechanisms, and timely responses to information requests.
He warned that persistent underfunding has already weakened institutional capacity, reduced public awareness among officials, and contributed to delays in responding to citizens’ requests.
According to him, these challenges are gradually eroding the intent of the FOI law and limiting citizens’ ability to hold government accountable.
Concerns Over Oversight Institutions
The organisation also expressed concern that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation made no budgetary allocation for FOI implementation, despite its statutory role in overseeing compliance across government institutions.
MRA argued that such an omission could weaken enforcement efforts and signal a lack of commitment from the government’s top legal authority, potentially encouraging non-compliance among other agencies.
Call for Dedicated Funding Framework
To address the gap, the group called for stronger budgetary directives mandating FOI allocations across all MDAs. It also proposed the establishment of a dedicated FOI oversight fund to ensure consistent implementation.
MRA maintained that without proper financial backing, the FOI Act risks becoming ineffective despite its importance to democratic governance.
