President Goodluck Jonathan has signed into law a bill specifying punishment for denial of free access to information or destruction of public documents, his office said Tuesday.
The bill, which has generated heated controversy in the past five years, spells out a minimum of one year in prison for anyone who wilfully destroys public documents.
“Where a case of wrongful denial of access is established, the defaulting officer or institution commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of 500,000 naira ($3,200; 2,225 euros),” it adds.
Matters relating to defence and international affairs are exempt.
Sensitive documents have for decades mysteriously disappeared in Nigeria, notably those related to investigations into graft and indiscipline.
Jonathan signed the bill, championed in parliament by two former journalists, on Saturday. He was inaugurated for his first full four-year term as president the following day.
“The (Freedom of Information) Act aims to make public records and information more freely available and to protect public records and information,” his office said in a statement.
The law says a government agency that refuses access to a record or information has to inform the applicant of its reasons. The applicant has the right to challenge the decision in court.
It also seeks to protect public officers from any adverse consequences of disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorisation, the statement said.
“A public institution may deny an application for any information the disclosure of which may be injurious to the conduct of international affairs and the defence of the federal republic of Nigeria,” it states.
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