Senate passes Freedom of Information Bill

Senate passes Freedom of Information Bill
Obiora Ani, Abuja

The Nigerian Senate has passed the Freedom of Information Bill.

Senate President, David Mark, said the bill generated a lot of controversy but was glad it was passed.

Briefing Senate reports shortly after the plenary, Senate Spokesman, Ayogu Eze, said the Freedom of Information Bill, was dedicated to media practitioners covering the National Assembly for their dedication to passing the bill.

Senate president endorsement

In a related development, the Northern Senators consisting of the Senators from the Nineteen Northern States of Nigeria have endorsed the candidature of Senator David Mark and Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the President and Deputy Senate President for the 7th National Assembly.

Addressing Senate Correspondents in Abuja, the leader of the group, Senator Umaru Dahiru, said both Senators Mark and Ekweremadu gave credible leadership to the Senate in the last four years.

Senator Dahiru recalled the illness that culminated into the death of the former Nigerian President, Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua, in May last year and the roles played by the Senate President, David Mark in stabilizing the polity after the crisis that followed the sickness and death of the former President.

He added that the amendment of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 that resulted in the smooth conduct of the 2011 elections were some of the reasons why both Senators David Mark and Ike Ekweremadu should continue as the President and Deputy President of the Senate.

Senators from the North Central, South East, and South –South zones of Nigeria had earlier endorsed the candidature of Senators Mark and Ekweremadu.

Qasim