Journalists’ Knowledge and Utilisation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Combatting Corruption in Nigeria
Article Sidebar
Page Numbers:
28-44
Digital Object Identifier:
10.58578/mikailalsys.v3i1.4285
Viewed: 312 times
Downloaded: 287 times
LYAS Publisher cordially invites qualified professionals to serve as Editors or Reviewers. Your expertise will make an important contribution to maintaining and strengthening the academic quality of our publications. Interested applicants are kindly requested to complete the application form at the following link: Editors & Reviewers
Please feel free to contact us if you need any further information about the submission process or if you have any additional questions.
Authors:
Isa Ahmed1, Shadrach Idi2* 
Copyright :
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study investigated journalists' knowledge and utilization of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Taraba State, Nigeria, particularly in relation to its role in exposing corruption in governance. Employing a quantitative research approach with a descriptive survey design, the study targeted 144 registered journalists, from which a sample of 84 respondents was selected using stratified and random sampling techniques. Data were collected through face-to-face administration of a questionnaire, ensuring content validity through expert review and confirming reliability via a pilot study. The findings revealed that while journalists in Taraba State possess a moderate level of awareness regarding the FOIA, their understanding of its provisions and practical application remains limited. The utilization of the FOIA to combat corruption was found to be low, with many journalists rarely using the law to expose corruption. Challenges such as bureaucratic delays, resistance from government officials, insufficient information, political pressures, and the complex process of requesting data under the FOIA were identified as major barriers to its effective use. The study recommends training for journalists on the FOIA, improvements in government response processes, stronger legal protections for journalists.
Downloads
Article Details
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
References
Abone, G.O & Kur, J.T (2014). Perceptual influence of freedom of information act on Journalism practice in nigeria, Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review (OMAN Chapter) 3, (7), 52-67.
Akor, M.I., Oko, M.A. (2015). Promoting transparency and accountability in governance in Nigeria through the Freedom of Information Act. African scholar journal of humanities and social science, 2, (4).
Apuke, D.O. (2016). An Evaluative Study of the Freedom of Information Act on Journalism Practice in Nigeria, New Media and Mass Communication, 53, (2).
Becker, G. S. (1974). Crime and punishment: An economic approach. In G. S. Becker & W. M. Landes (Eds.), Essays in the economics of crime and punishment (pp. 1–54). New York, NY: National Bureau of Economic Research.
Becker, L. B., Tudor, V., & Nusser, N. (2007). An evaluation of press freedom indicators. International Communication Gazette, 69(1), 5–28. doi:10.1177/1748048507072774
Camaj, L. (2012). The media’s role in fighting corruption: Media effects on governmental accountability. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 18(1), 21–42. doi:10.1177/1940161212462741
Daramola, I. (2003). Press freedom: legal bases and constraints in America and Nigeria. In Akinfelaye, R. A. Okoye, I. E. (eds) Issues in Nigerian Media History 1900-2000 AD. Lagos: Malthouse Press Limited.
Dunu, I. & Ugbo, G. O. (2014). The Nigerian journalists’ knowledge, perception and use of the freedom of information (FOI) law in journalism practices.Journal of Media and Communication Studies, 6(1), 1 – 10.
Duru, C.W. (2016). The Relevance of Nigeria’s Freedom of Information Act (2011) to the Country’s Anti-corruption War, Journalism and Mass Communication, December 2016, 6, (12), 757-762 doi: 10.17265/2160-6579/2016.12.005
Egwemi, V. (2012). Corruption and corrupt practices in Nigeria: an agenda for taming the monster. Journal of sustainable development in Africa, 14, (3).
Escaleras, M., Lin, S., & Register, C. (2009). Freedom of information acts and public sector corruption. Public Choice, 145(3–4), 435–460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11127-009-9574-0
Ezeah, G.H. (2004). Problems facing freedom of information in Nigeria. Nsukka Journal of Mass Communication 1(1), 17-26.
Freedom House. (2015). Freedom of the press 2015. Retrieved from https://freedomhouse.org/report-types/freedom-press
Izuchukwu, A., Awakessien, C., & Awakessien, S. (2024). Corruption and governance: Examining the impact on political stability in Nigeria. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Research, 10(2), 1-xx. https://www.iiardjournals.org
Lederman, D., Loayza, N. V., & Soares, R. R. (2005). Accountability and corruption: Political institutions matter. Economics & Politics, 17(1), 1–35. doi:10.1111/j.1468 0343.2005.00145.x
Lindstedt, C., & Naurin, D. (2010). Transparency is not enough: Making transparency effective in reducing corruption. International Political Science Review, 31(3), 301–322. doi:10.1177/0192512110377602.
Mensah, A. (2019). The role of media in curbing corruption in Africa. IDOSR Journal of Communication and English, 4(1), 33-40.
Ndiribe, O. (2011, June 8). FOI Bill heralds a new era in Nigeria. Vanguard, 25 (61383), p.21.
Norris, P. (2004). Global political communication. Good governance, human development and mass communication. In F. Esser & B. Pfetsch (Eds.), Comparing political communication: Theories, cases and challenges (pp. 115–150). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Nnanwuba A., A. Ogochukwu E. G. & Chukwuweike O. (2019). FOI Act and Journalism Practice in Nigeria: An Appraisal, Journal of Law and Global Policy, 4 (1) 20 IIARD – International Institute of Academic Research and Development
Ogbuokiri, K. (2011). Nigeria: The limit of information act in Freedom of Information Act 2011 and the fight against corruption and corporate fraud in governance. Retrieved on 26th April, 2012 from http://www.allafrica.com
Ojo, O. (2015). Combating corruption through the FOI Act. Proceedings a Media/Civil Society Roundtable on Nigeria’s anti-corruption situation. Lagos.
Sambe, J. (2008). Introduction to mass communication practice in Nigeria. Ibadan: Spectru Books.
Schedler, A. (1999). Conceptualizing accountability. In A. Schedler, L. Diamond, & M. F. Plantter (Eds.), The self-restraining state (pp. 13–28). Boulder, CO: Lynne Reinner.
Astolfi, M. (2022). The role of media in exposing political corruption and its impact on democratic governance and societal development. Relatore Candidato, Anno Accademico 2022/2023. https://tesi.luiss.it/36795/1/098582_ASTOLFI_MARIA.pdf
Suntai, I.D & Targema, T.S (2018). Media and the Civil Society in the Fight against Corruption: The Case of Nigeria. IJORAS, 1, (1), pp. 49-69.
Stapenhurst, R., 2000. The media’s role in curbing corruption. A paper for International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Starke, C. Teresa K. Naab, & Helmut Scherer). (2016).Free to Expose Corruption: The Impact of Media Freedom, Internet Access, and Governmental Online Service Delivery on Corruption, International Journal of Communication 10(2016), 4702–4722 1932 8036/20160005
Thusi, X., & Mlambo, V. H. (2023). The Effects of Africa’s Infrastructure Crisis and its Root Causes. International Journal of Environmental Sustainability and Social Science, 4(4), 1055–1067. https://doi.org/10.38142/ijesss.v4i4.671