Minna FUT VC calls for compliance with the FOI Bill for accountability and openness.

Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta, vice chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) in Minna, Niger State, has underlined the need of following the Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act), saying that it serves to dispel suspicions and encourage openness in the institution’s activities.

Prof. Kuta said this during the commencement of a one-day workshop for centre directors and deans that was hosted at the Gidan-Kwano campus by the FUT Minna FOI Unit in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Justice.

In light of this, the VC further emphasised that, in order to maintain accountability and openness, the institution makes sure that its earnings and outlays are reported every week in its newsletter.

Additionally, he clarified that the training would concentrate on enhancing service delivery and tackling problems that impact students, instructors, and the host community.

The session is on the FOI Bill, which was issued by the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and contains the legislation that governs how our university operates, he said. Having the FOI in place makes things simple. This is because a lack of knowledge can raise doubts, and once it is established, everyone will be able to freely access the university’s vision and mission. In order to enhance our service to humanity, FUT Minna also longs for accountability and openness in its operations.

In order for the participants to efficiently carry out their obligations, Prof. Kuta then advised them to be open-minded and share their thoughts on the FOI Bill.

The training will improve participants’ comprehension of the FOI Act and encourage best practices, according to Evelyn P. Hussaini, Head of the FOI Unit at FUT, who had emphasised the university’s dedication to accountability and transparency.

Mariah Obafemi from the Ministry of Justice gave a summary of the FOI Act in her keynote address, pointing out that requesting information from government agencies does not require a valid reason.

She added that there may be a N500,000 penalties for refusing to grant access to information.

Obafemi praised FUT Minna for being the nation’s first university to adhere to Section 13 of the FOI Act, emphasising the university’s transparent operations and well-defined procedure for managing FOI requests.