Freedom of Information Act: Legal Framework for Open Government Implementation in Nigeria

One of the best ways for any government to prove its accountability and transparency to its citizens is to avail them the opportunity to access government information anytime. This act of openness is an important characteristic of good governance and accounts for the reason many nation-states are embracing the idea of enacting Freedom of Information Act. The Nigerian government passed the Freedom of Information Act into law in 2011 to promote open governance. However, the level of implementation since it was passed into law has been a subject of academic debate as several challenges have adversely affected its functionality. This study examined how the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act) 2011 has enhanced open governance in Nigeria and how it has impacted accountability and transparency, which are regarded as critical to realizing good governance in the country. By adopting and using the qualitative methodology, the researcher could ascertain relevant facts and information from existing works of literature, online materials, report and other statutory contents in pursuance of the aim of the study. The study also discussed various challenges militating against effective implementation of the Act and strategic solutions capable of ensuring implementation of the FOI Act.