Leveraging the Freedom of Information Act 2011 in Strengthening Fiscal Responsibility and Anti-Corruption Campaigns in Nigeria: Underscoring the Roles of Media Professionals

Abstract

One of the governance challenges dogging national development in Nigeria involves the use of public finances in delivering public goods to Nigerians. The rate of corruption by public office holders constitute a noose on the necks of Nigerians who are struggling daily to make a living. This is because funds earmarked for use in providing social services usually end up in personal coffers; and regrettably, the campaigns against corruption by successive administrations since 1999, including the setting up of anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions and the Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission , have not yielded the desired results. Not even the Whistle Blower policy mooted by the President Muhammadu Buhari government succeeded in stemming the tides of looting, embezzlement and graft that characterized governance and statecraft in the country between 2015 and 2023. Hence, the last administration has been severally described as being "fantastically corrupt". In view of the attendant implications of corruption to the attainment of national development goals, this paper seeks to underline the import of the Freedom of Information Act of 2011 in waging war against corruption, by underscoring the expected roles of Nigerian media practitioners (journalists) in the on-going campaign against corruption. It argues that for the anti- corruption campaigns to yield the desired results, the anti-corruption agencies must build bridges of cooperation with media professionals who must in turn leverage the provisions of the FOI Act of 2011 in exposing corrupt conduct by public office holders. Key words: Corruption, Anti-corruption, Public Finance, Freedom of Information Act, Fiscal Responsibility

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