Alhaji Umar Abubakar, the Kebbi State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Friday urged the NOA officers to enlighten the public on the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

He gave the charge when the Agency in Kebbi began the enlightenment programme for the NOA's Chief Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMOs) on the FOI Act.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the enlightenment programme was organised in conjunction with Democratic Governance for Development Project (DGDII).

The state NOA director told the participants that the enlightenment would guide members of the public on modalities to grant citizens unhindered access to information from public institutions.

He said that participants who included Chief Orientation and mobilization Officers (COMOs) were expected to expand the scope of the enlightenment.

"The FOI Act was enacted to promote public participation in governance and to ensure that the citizens not only understand their rights to the provision but also exercise those rights.

"The Chief Orientation and Mobilization Officers (COMOs) are expected to step down the same enlightenment to Officers and Civic Responsibility Volunteers (CRVs) at their respective areas.

"Such will facilitate the next step of initiative of grassroots publicity," he added.

Alhaji Muhammad Tukur, the state chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), told NAN that the enlightenment would enrich public information on governance to the citizens, Journalists and civil rights organisations.

"The right to obtain information from public institutions would guarantee good governance and active participation of the public on decision making, formulation of policies and programmes," he said.

He said the FOI Act had offered Journalists opportunities to provide accurate information to the public that would seek participation in governance.