The administration of President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate transfer of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Unit to operate under the Legal Units of all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The directive was issued in a circular from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, signed by Dr. Deborah O. N. Odoh, Permanent Secretary of the Service Policies and Strategies Office, on behalf of the Head of the Civil Service.

Key Details of the Directive

• The FOI Unit will no longer function under the Planning, Research, and Statistics Department but will now report directly to the Legal Units of respective MDAs.
• The move aims to strengthen compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (2011) and streamline reporting processes with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
• The circular was addressed to top government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and heads of federal agencies.

Rationale Behind the Restructuring

According to the circular, the relocation is intended to:

• Enhance efficiency in handling FOI requests.
• Improve coordination with the Attorney-General’s reporting obligations under the Act.
• Centralize oversight of FOI-related processes under Legal Units for better compliance.

Strict Compliance Mandated

The circular emphasized:

“All FOI-related activities, processes, and documentation are henceforth to be coordinated by the respective Legal Units.”
It further instructed all affected offices to “ensure strict compliance” with the directive.

This move signals the Tinubu administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability while reinforcing legal oversight in FOI implementation.