PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has signed the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) 2011 into law.

The bill, which was passed by the outgoing National Assembly, was conveyed to the presidency on Friday, May 27, 2011.

Jonathan's signature on the document ended the long journey of the bill which started 11 years ago when it first made its appearance on the floor of the National Assembly.

According to a statement signed by Justin Abuah, Deputy Director (Information) Office of the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) in Abuja, on Tuesday, the president assented to it on Saturday, May 28.

The statement pointed out that the objective of the Act is to make public records and information more freely available, and to also protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy.

The Freedom of Information Act also seeks to protect serving public officers from any adverse consequence of disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorisation and to establish procedures for the achievement of these purposes, it added.

However, President Jonathan withheld his assent to the National Assembly Service Commission repeal and re-enactment bill passed into law by the National Assembly last month and returned same to the National Assembly.

The president made his reservation on the bill known through a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, saying he could not assent to the bill because of his reservation about the proposed administrative structure.

He made particular reference to the second schedule, which he described as being at variance with the structure of similar commissions in the federation.

The president’s letter reads: “Upon careful consideration of this bill, I found that I have reservation about the proposed administrative structure as contained in the second schedule which is at variance with the structure of similar commissions in the federation.

“I, therefore, wish to remit the bill to the honourable House so that you can have another look at the said structure with a view to reviewing it and re-presenting the bill for my assent.”

Meanwhile,

CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Smart Adeyemi, on Tuesday, commended President Goodluck Jona-than for signing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, saying that with the act, the president has commenced his transformation project for the country.

The harmonised version of the bill was passed by the National Assembly on Thursday, last week and consequently forwarded to the president for his assent.

Adeyemi, a two-time national president of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said the signing of the bill into law was an indication of good governance and sincerity of purpose which the president promised.

According to him, “l congratulate the media practitioners and the whole country, as the bill would make the policies and spending of government open for the country to see and would minimise corruption.

“Besides, it is also good for the socio-economic and political emancipation of the country. l commend the president for signing the bill.”

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