By Mumini Abdulkareem
The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq yesterday maintained silence over his refusal to sign the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill as the 30 days ultimatum elapsed on Friday.
The bill was forwarded to the Governor by the 8th House of Assembly after its passage by the Dr Ali Ahmad led legislature in June and was described as a major plank of All Progressives Congress (APC) administration change mantra to run a transparent government.
Critics and proponents of the government have differed on the action of the Governor for his refusal to sign the bill which trended on many major platforms in the state for over three days running.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Sunday refused to comment whether the Governor will return it to House for amendment of some clauses after his refusal to sign the bill.
But the Elite Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD), a state based Civil Society Organization that sponsored the bill said the Governor’s action is not the end of the process.
According to the Kwara State Founder and Coordinator, Dr Alagbonsi Abdullateef in a whatsApp statement, even though the official position of the Governor on the Bill has not been officially communicated to the Kwara State House of Assembly or Kwarans entirely, the “refusal to Assent to the Bill (if that is the final result) is not the end of the process but a continuation of the landmark legislation in the state.
He said the FOI law has come to stay in Kwara adding that “it is just a matter of time”.
“On behalf of ENetSuD and other Kwarans, I want to sincerely appreciate all of us that believed in and supported the FOI Bill passage due to our quest for Good Governance, Transparency and Accountability in our only and precious Kwara State.
“I also want to thank those that were against it. Their opposition to the Bill was not because they were not patriotic, but probably because they are not adequately informed about the novel and highly-needed Bill, and the sincerity and transparency that birthed the Bill.
“Kwara belongs to all of us, and we must be united in our pursuit of the Kwara State of our dream where the elected people will be answerable to the citizens that enthroned them.
“While awaiting the Governor’s official communication to KWHA or press statement on the Bill, I’ll urge us to stay calm and be assured that ENetSuD and other promoters of the Bill are advocating in the best interest of Kwara citizens and residents to ensure that Kwara Money works for Kwarans,” he submitted.
Recall that Dr Alagbonsi told this medium in an interview last week that; “The law provides that any bill transmitted as such should be signed or declined within 30 days. Counting from that date, the Governor only has up to (last) Friday to sign or decline the bill.
“Our prayer however is for him to sign it because during his inauguration speech, he stated clearly that his administration will be transparent and accountable to Kwarans and we want to test how true that statement is by his action on FOI bill. We are appealing to him to sign it for us to continue to follow state and Local Government fund in the state the way we have done for Federal Government fund.”
maintained silence over his refusal to sign the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill as the 30 days ultimatum elapsed on Friday.
The bill was forwarded to the Governor by the 8th House of Assembly after its passage by the Dr Ali Ahmad led legislature in June and was described as a major plank of All Progressives Congress (APC) administration change mantra to run a transparent government.
Critics and proponents of the government have differed on the action of the Governor for his refusal to sign the bill which trended on many major platforms in the state for over three days running.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Sunday refused to comment whether the Governor will return it to House for amendment of some clauses after his refusal to sign the bill.
But the Elite Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD), a state based Civil Society Organization that sponsored the bill said the Governor’s action is not the end of the process.
According to the Kwara State Founder and Coordinator, Dr Alagbonsi Abdullateef in a whatsApp statement, even though the official position of the Governor on the Bill has not been officially communicated to the Kwara State House of Assembly or Kwarans entirely, the “refusal to Assent to the Bill (if that is the final result) is not the end of the process but a continuation of the landmark legislation in the state.
He said the FOI law has come to stay in Kwara adding that “it is just a matter of time”.
“On behalf of ENetSuD and other Kwarans, I want to sincerely appreciate all of us that believed in and supported the FOI Bill passage due to our quest for Good Governance, Transparency and Accountability in our only and precious Kwara State.
“I also want to thank those that were against it. Their opposition to the Bill was not because they were not patriotic, but probably because they are not adequately informed about the novel and highly-needed Bill, and the sincerity and transparency that birthed the Bill.
“Kwara belongs to all of us, and we must be united in our pursuit of the Kwara State of our dream where the elected people will be answerable to the citizens that enthroned them.
“While awaiting the Governor’s official communication to KWHA or press statement on the Bill, I’ll urge us to stay calm and be assured that ENetSuD and other promoters of the Bill are advocating in the best interest of Kwara citizens and residents to ensure that Kwara Money works for Kwarans,” he submitted.
Recall that Dr Alagbonsi told this medium in an interview last week that; “The law provides that any bill transmitted as such should be signed or declined within 30 days. Counting from that date, the Governor only has up to (last) Friday to sign or decline the bill.
“Our prayer however is for him to sign it because during his inauguration speech, he stated clearly that his administration will be transparent and accountable to Kwarans and we want to test how true that statement is by his action on FOI bill. We are appealing to him to sign it for us to continue to follow state and Local Government fund in the state the way we have done for Federal Government fund.”
