Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Edo State, Nigeria – The Civil Empowerment and Rule of Law Support Initiative (CERLSI), has trained online and freelance Journalists on interrogating government infractions and holding them accountable to the people, using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
The Executive Director, CERLSI, Sam Kargbo, while addressing the participants at the training in Benin, said the roles played by Journalists in this democratic dispensation can not be overemphasized especially the online and freelancers.
He said they interrogate the government infractions and hold them accountable to the people.
Kargbo said for them to be able to do their job effectively, they must do it within the ambit of the law and avoid issues related to fake news, misinformation, disinformation and unnecessary media censorship with responsible reportage of news-related stories and investigations.
The Executive Director, CERLSI, said based on the foregoing, Journalists in the state must be abreast with the roles of the game as it relates to writing an FOIA request now that they are preparing for a major election, which is the 2024 governorship election and must not be cut off guard.
“We believe this seminar comes in handy for two reasons. The first is that, Edo State is on the cusp of a governorship election in 2024.
“Issues concerning physical and human infrastructure like roads, healthcare, education and security of lives and property took centre stage in the past seven years in Edo State.
“There were reports that online and mainstream Journalists had difficulties with accessing government’s information and this is in spite of the reported interest of most subnational governments like Edo in the Open Government Partnership (OGP), thematic areas of zero tolerance to corruption, citizens participation in governance and access to information”, Kargbo said.
He however called on Journalists to make the best out of the seminar and make the country a better place for all by holding the government accountable to the electorate.