Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, is to receive an award for public service innovation and digital opportunities in the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is among distinguished invited guests to witness the award ceremony organised by FOI COUNSEL, a non-profit organisation working to promote awareness of human rights and improve access to public records through advocacy, research and litigation.
In a statement signed by the organisation’s spokesman, Danesi Momoh Prince, the group will also hold its maiden public lecture with the theme, “Public Interest in Public Service,” during the ceremony scheduled for March 25, 2020 at the Radio House, Abuja.
Two other individuals and two organisations will be awarded at the event. They include; Media Trust Limited (Daily Trust) for investigative and data- driven reports, Jack-Rich Tein Jnr of Belema Oil, for philanthropic support with wide reach, Hon. Justice A.M. Liman, for improving the jurisprudence of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Nigeria, and Open Society Foundation (OSF), for financial and technical assistance to open government work in Africa.
The public lecture will be delivered by Amb. Martin Uhomoivbi, (Dan Majen Koko), a former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The event will be climaxed the public presentation of a 350-page book published by the organisation titled “Freedom of Information: Law, Practice and Procedure” to be reviewed by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu.
According to the organisers, defending the interest of the public in public service starts with identifying who the stakeholders are which are service giver and the user. The code of conduct for public officers is spelt out in the 1999 Constitution.
The chairman of the occasion is Maj. Gen. S.Z. Uba (rtd), a former Commandant, Nigeria Army Peacekeeping Centre while the father of the ceremony is Hon. Justice Sidi Bage, JSC (rtd), the Emir of Lafia among other dignitaries.
