NGOs Call For Enhanced Gender-Disaggregated Data Compliance

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Accountability Lab Nigeria, Public and Private Development Center, Media Rights Agenda, International Center for Investigative Reporting, BudgiT Foundation, and Right to Know (RTK) Nigeria, have unveiled the 2024 Freedom of Information (FOI) Rankings, emphasising the need for public institutions to adopt gender- and disability-inclusive data practices.

Speaking during the presentation of the gender analysis with the theme, “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector in Nigeria,” yesterday in Abuja, Precious Adigwe highlighted significant gaps in data disclosure practices across public institutions. “Most of our public institutions’ websites are unresponsive and outdated. The information available does not adequately reflect gender inclusion,” she said.

She noted that out of more than 200 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) examined, approximately 90 were selected for detailed analysis. The results showed that many MDAs still fall short in capturing comprehensive information about all members of society, including persons with disabilities.

Adigwe stressed that the Freedom of Information Act, signed into law on May 28, 2011, guarantees access to information for all citizens.

However, she questioned whether the data provided truly reflects gender disaggregation, asking, “Are the records you keep inclusive of every single person—persons with disabilities, males, females, and other important members of society?”

She outlined three key reasons why gender-disaggregated data is essential: promoting transparency and accountability, supporting equality initiatives, and fulfilling legal obligations.

Despite ongoing efforts to advance gender equality, Adigwe noted that the lack of sufficient gender-disaggregated data remains a barrier, particularly in advancing female representation in decision-making processes.

She called on MDAs to leverage the FOI Act as a tool for enhancing gender data collection and urged citizens and advocacy groups to actively request detailed gender-disaggregated data from public institutions.

On her part, Victoria Etem, who represented the chief executive officer (CEO) of R2K, noted that the National FOI Ranking is an annual assessment of public institutions’ compliance with the FOI Act, launched in 2019. “The ranking is based on criteria such as proactive disclosure, responsiveness to FOI requests, timeliness, level of disclosure, and institutional transparency,” she explained.

Etem pointed out that this year’s rankings mark a milestone in the pursuit of transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public sector. With the theme “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector,” the event underscored a collective commitment to the effective implementation of the FOI Act.

While there has been notable progress, with several institutions demonstrating excellence in FOI compliance, Etem acknowledged persistent challenges, including a lack of proactive information disclosure, instances of harassment by security sector institutions, and the refusal of some institutions to provide requested information.