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MRA Idnucts NBC into FOI Hall of Shame

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Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today named the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) this week’s inductee into the “Freedom of Information (FOI) Hall of Shame”, saying that its overall performance in the implementation of the FOI Act over the last seven years falls far short of what is required of a public institution covered by the Act.

 

Announcing the induction of the NBC in a statement in Lagos, Mr. Idowu Adewale, MRA’s programme officer, said although the Commission had shown a degree of responsiveness to requests for information from members of the public, as a key actor in the information and communication sector in Nigeria whose responsibilities include providing a framework to ensure the delivery of accurate and reliable information to Nigerians by the broadcast media, it ought to be among public institutions clamouring for the effective implementation of the Act as a way of advancing the flow of information to citizens.

 

Adewale accused the NBC of failing to fulfill several of its duties under the FOI Act, particularly its proactive disclosure obligations, as it has neglected to publish the categories of information listed for proactive disclosure under Section 2(3) of the FOI Act on its website or anywhere else, adding that it is thereby denying citizens of vital information relating to its activities, businesses and operations as well as key information specifically relevant to the broadcast sector in Nigeria.

 

He said: “According to an analysis conducted by Media Rights Agenda on the Attorney-General of the Federation’s reports to the National Assembly on the implementation of the FOI Act between 2011 and 2017, the NBC only submitted one report in 2014 on its implementation of the Act, out of seven annual reports which it ought to have submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation under Section 29 of the Act as of February 1, 2018.”

 

Referring to the “Database of FOI Desk Officers in Public Institutions in Nigeria,” recently released by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Adewale noted that the document further attests to the fact that the NBC is in continuing breach of other aspects of the FOI Act as it shows that the institution has also disregarded the provisions of Section 2(3)(f) of the Act, which requires every public institution to designate an appropriate officer and publish the title and address of such an officer to whom applications for information by members of the public should be sent.

 

According to him, the NBC has persisted in this breach despite elaborate guidance on this issue provided by the Attorney-General of the Federation to all public institutions in his Implementation Guidelines on the FOI Act, issued in 2013 as well as reminders that his office has sent to the Commission along with other public institutions to designate such an official and send the person’s details to the office of the Attorney-General.

 

Adewale similarly accused the NBC of also being in breach of Section 13 of the FOI Act, which mandates every public institution to ensure the provision of appropriate training for its officials on the public’s right of access to information and for the effective implementation of the Act.

 

He contended that “the breaches of various provisions of the FOI Act by the NBC and the obvious disregard by the institution of its duties and obligations under the Law constitute a setback both to efforts at implementing the FOI Act and the broadcasting industry in Nigeria.”

 

Adewale noted that the NBC has demonstrated a degree of responsiveness to requests for information as it is known to have responded to some request for information from members of the public. But he argued that the Commission still has a long way to go in ensuring that the objective of the FOI Act is fulfilled, adding that its overall performance in the implementation of the Act and compliance with its provisions was clearly below the level expected of any public institutions.

 

He urged the NBC to take steps to improve on its current level of compliance with the provisions of the Act, especially in the areas of its proactive disclosure and reporting obligations as well as the training of its officials.

 

According to him, the NBC should use its website to proactively publish much of the information that it holds, particularly those categories of information which the Act requires all public institutions to proactively disclose, adding that by so doing, the Commission would not only be bringing itself into compliance with the Law but would also lessen the burden of repeatedly processing individual requests for information touching on such issues.

 

Adewale called upon the Director General of the NBC to take urgent steps to ensure the provision of appropriate training for the staff and officials of the Commission so as to acquaint them with their duties and obligations under the FOI Act as well as to make them aware that Nigerians now have a right of access to information which public institutions are obliged to respect and give effect to.

 

He called on the National Assembly to exercise its powers as the ultimate oversight body in the implementation of the Law and accordingly institute measures to ensure that the NBC and other public institutions which are failing to comply with their obligations under the FOI Act are compelled to fully implement the Law, adding that the failure of the National Assembly to review the level of implementation of the Act since its passage or to take steps to ensure more effective implementation was extremely disturbing.

 

MRA launched the “FOI Hall of Shame” in July 2017 to draw attention to public officials and institutions that are undermining the effectiveness of the FOI Act through their actions, inactions, utterances and decisions.

 


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Meet ADU Candidates 2024: ITREALMS collaborates with Awba-Ofemili Chatroom

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The international multiple award-winning, ITREALMS Media group, is collaborating with Awba-Ofemili ChatRoom to organise a week-long ‘Meet ADU Candidates 2024’ on social media for the forthcoming Awba-Ofemili Development Union (ADU) general elections aspirants.

At press time, Awba-Ofemili ChatRoom boosts of hundreds of indigenous membership from the rice producing community in Awka-North of Anambra State, both locally and in diaspora, whereas ITREALMS is a media entity with clouts in the usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to entrench digitalSENSE in the society.

Speaking on this collaboration, the Editor-in-chief of ITREALMS Media and publishers of ITREALMS Online, Sir Remmy Nweke, said the initiative is to afford all indigenes of Awba-Ofemili the opportunity to meet with some key aspirants, who aspire to any elective positions during the 2024 general elections, especially from the secretariat to presidency.

The weeklong ‘Meet ADU Candidates 2024,’ Nweke pointed out, would afford aspirants to reach ndi Awba-Ofemili in one room both home and abroad, share their manifesto to over 200 members of the group.

Additionally, he said aspirants would be able to take constructive feedback to enable them gauge the expectations of ndi Awba-Ofemili.

Also, he said that the session would be hosted in collaboration with the leadership of Awba-Ofemili ChatRoom on WhatsApp from Monday 25th through Thursday, March 28, 2024.

Nweke, who would be moderating the session, said it offers aspirants the possibilities of leveraging social media to engage and market themselves to teeming youths and every eligible adult in the town and diaspora for the forthcoming ADU general elections slated for Monday, April 1, 2024 at Awba-Ofemili Civic Center.

ITREALMS Media group www.itrealms.com.ng pioneered this in 2021 as part of our contribution in endearing peace and democratic education, among other tenets to help the good people of Awba-Ofemili make informed decision and have a sense of direction in building Awba-Ofemili we want,

Equally speaking, the chief administrator of Awba-Ofemili ChatRoom, Mr. Fred Nweke said that the ‘Meet ADU Candidates 2024’ sessions are expected to enable participants set agenda and interact with aspirants in various offices not limited to Secretary-General, Vice President-General and President General for this year.

He urged every indigene of Awba-Ofemili to use the medium to interface with aspirants and provide relevant feedback they could use after their elections.

Recall that in year 2021, ITREALMS Media group, pioneered ‘Meet ADU Candidates’ as part of its contribution in deepening peace and democratic education, among other tenets to help the good people of Awba-Ofemili make informed decision and have a sense of direction in building Awba-Ofemili they want.


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Ghanaian Musician, Stonebwoy, Stars on Glo-sponsored African Voices Playmakers

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This week’s edition of the Glo-sponsored African Voices Playmakers, a magazine program of Cable News Network (CNN) is featuring the unique talent of Ghanaian Afropop and reggae star, Stonebwoy.

In an honest interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, the 36-year-old, whose real  name is Livingstone Etse Satekla, claims to be the “King of Afro-dancehall.” He serves as the CEO of the Accra, Ghana-based musical ensemble Burniton. His commitment to bringing the Black diaspora together via his musical genre serves to further his fame.

Stonebwoy is no stranger to awards. In 2015, he won the Best International Act: Africa title at the BET Awards and the Artist of the Year title at the Ghana Music Awards, among other honors and recognitions. In addition, he received two Billboard plaques and Boomplay’s Golden Club plaque for garnering a staggering 100 million streams on the site.

He was included by YCEO and Avance media in their list of the 2019 50 (fifty) young CEOs. The list was established in 2018 to recognize outstanding young people who are dedicated to offering answers to some of Ghana’s issues. “Happy Death Day” and “My Name Is Ramadan” are two high-profile films in which Stonebwoy has acted.

African Voices Playmakers will be shown on DSTV Channel 401 on Saturday at 7.30 a.m. with repeat broadcast the same day at 11 a.m. Further rebroadcasts will be on Sunday 3.30 a.m., 6.00 p.m. and on Monday at 3.00 a.m. The edition will be repeated next week Saturday at 7.30 a.m., 11 a.m., on Sunday at 4.30 a.m., 7.00 p.m. and on Monday at 4.00 a.m.

 


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Safeguarding the Source: World Water Day and the Crucial Role of Home Water Filters

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As we commemorate World Water Day, the global focus on the significance of fresh water highlights the urgent water challenges confronting our planet. With escalating scarcity and pollution endangering our water sources, it’s time for individuals to step up, taking center stage in addressing this issue.

The spotlight now illuminates the transformative potential of home water filters, which not only helps reduce the usage of single use plastic water bottles but also leads to a more sustainable lifestyle Access to clean, safe water is not just a privilege; it’s a fundamental human right.

In the face of mounting global water crises, home water filters emerge as a beacon of hope, offering a tangible solution to ensure the purity of our most precious resource.

The World Health Organization warns of the grave health risks posed by contaminated water sources, underscoring the urgency of securing a safe water supply. Investing in home water filters isn’t just about personal health; it’s a collective commitment to safeguarding public health and well-being on a global scale.

QNET, a global lifestyle and wellness focused direct selling company, and staunch advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). With a firm dedication to sustainability, QNET has pioneered a range of products that not only meet ethical manufacturing standards but also leave a positive impact on the planet.

In the quest for clean water, home water filters emerge as unsung heroes, diligently working to strip away impurities and contaminants, delivering a steady flow of clean, safe drinking water directly to your home.

Trevor Kuna, Chief Transformation & Reputation Officer at QNET, emphasizes the company’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and the UNSDG, stating, “Home water filters offer a sustainable and eco-friendly solution, reducing our reliance on single-use plastics and promoting responsible water consumption.”

Introducing QNET’s HomePure range, featuring the revolutionary HomePure Viva and HomePure Nova. These state-of-the-art home water filters boast a cutting-edge 9-stage water purification system, effectively eliminating an astounding 99.99% of bacteria and viruses, ensuring water that’s not just safe, but pristine.

Kuna also stated that “Investing in home water filters isn’t merely a personal choice; it’s a powerful statement in support of global water conservation efforts.

By embracing sustainable water practices at the grassroots level, we can ease the burden on our planet’s water resources.

World Water Day serves as a poignant reminder that every decision we make, including the choice to install a water filter, ripples outward, shaping the health of our planet”.

As we mark World Water Day, let’s take a moment to contemplate the indispensable role water plays in our lives and the weighty responsibility we shoulder in preserving this invaluable resource.

By adopting home water filters, we take proactive steps to safeguard the health of our families and pave the way for a future where clean water flows freely for all generations.

Together, as conscientious custodians of our planet, we can rewrite the narrative of the global water crisis, forging a path toward a sustainable, healthier world for all.


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