Information Commissioner Abdul Azeez Jamaal Abubakur has stated that in order to garner public trust and respect, government institutions should disclose records. The Information Commissioner made the remarks in his statement, delivered on the occasion of the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
The Information Commissioner noted that reluctance to disclose public information by any institution is a grave mistake which could have severe consequences. Reluctance by institutions to share public records and information would breed doubt against the institutions, often giving room for accusations to be levied on heads of such institutions, he said.
Since last year, the Office of the Information Commissioner has been conferring recognition awards for government institutions with notable success in ensuring an open record system, which allows public to gain access to necessary information and records of institutions. The Information Commissioner expressed hope that this award will be conferred to as many institutions as possible.
He further requested all institutions to assist with implementing the regulations governing dissemination of public records and information. The Right to Information Act was passed by parliament in 2014.