THE NATIONAL Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has said it is dedicated to the full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, with a goal to becoming the leading government agency in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Professor Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, the Executive Secretary of NCCE, made this remark at the sensitisation workshop on the successful execution of the FOI Act for NCCE staff, held on Monday, October 30, 2023 at Chukuemeka Ezeife Hall, NCCE Secretariat in Abuja.
The Executive Secretary, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Mr Lawrence Babatunde Aremu, commended the NCCE FOI Committee for organising the workshop and stressed the significance of staff being well acquainted with FOI regulations.
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He urged staff to, while complying with the FOI Act, differentiate between what is permissible and what is not, as he stressed that there is a clear a distinction between rumours and the principle of Freedom of Information.
In his welcome address, Chairman NCCE FOI Committee, Mr Ameh Isaac Oche, expressed the Committee’s appreciation to the Executive Secretary.
According to him, the workshop “would not have been possible without God and the dynamic leadership prowess of the Executive Secretary of NCCE who gave express approval and the required support towards achieving the set objectives of the Committee”.
Mr Ameh stressed that the awareness/sensitisation workshop is aimed at; increasing awareness on how to handle and manage information for enhanced productivity.
He said the workshop would promote mutual interface amongst staff and unity for purposeful developments to grasp more knowledge on FOI Act 2011 as well as help in behaviour modification for positive work environment.
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He however urged participants to pay attention to enable comprehension as the purpose for the training is expected to be result-oriented.
The guest lecturer, Mr Iduh L. Onah, the Editor-in-Chief of Abuja-based online newspaper, National Record, presented a paper entitled: ‘Implementation of FOI Act 2011 in NCCE,’ gave a brief history of the global and national movement that culminated in the enactment of the FOI Act, and the basic theoretical principles and practical processes for the application of the law. Key moments of the sensitisation workshop revolved around engaging discussions between participants and presenter.
