International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011 is landmark legislation in Nigeria aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance. The Act grants citizens the right to access information held by public institutions, including government ministries, departments, and agencies. For journalists, the FOIA represents a significant tool for enhancing their work, as it provides a legal framework for accessing government information and holding public officials accountable. In Ondo State, Nigeria, the implementation of the FOIA has been a subject of interest among journalists, civil society organisations, and the general public. While the Act has been in existence for over a decade, its impact on journalistic practices and access to government information in Ondo State remains largely unexplored.
Objective: The study investigated why journalists use the FOI legislation for news gathering.
Method: Adopting Mixed Method of research design, 360 registered members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state were surveyed while two prominent figures knowledgeable about FOI Act were interviewed. The data generated through the questionnaire were analysed using simple frequencies and percentages while the interview were analysed thematically. Results: It was found out that journalists in Ondo state are aware of the FOI Act, however, despite this awareness, the study established that journalists in the state were not using the provisions of the law for news reportage due to personal reasons and dearth of quest to pursue issues to reasonable conclusion.
Conclusion: The study concludes that majority of journalists in Ondo State do not use FOI legislation This could be attributed to the bureaucracy involved.
Unique Contribution: This study has offered new insight into why Journalists do no use FOI legislation showing why government needed to eliminate too much bureaucracy in accessing the FOI legislation.
Key Recommendation: The study recommended, among others, that journalists should be committed to the use of the law and media organisations should encourage their reporters and editors to deploy the law for news reportage through constant trainings and provision of funding to enable journalists apply for information and pursue legal issues arising from requests for information.