My Right

As a researcher, it saddens me that I have easy access to legislations, policies and judgements of other countries, but having such access in Nigeria's context is always a struggle.

It is a breakthrough when in certain instances, a law is passed or judgement delivered and such is shared online without paying for any subscription anywhere.

Save for the National Industrial Court which has shown that it is possible for all courts in Nigeria to publish their judgements/rulings on their websites, majority of the courts in Nigeria ( even the Supreme Court sadly) are yet to see why it is necessary that the people have access to their decisions. After all, courts' decisions are part of Nigerian laws made for the people.

Not even legislators especially those at the state level are any better. Sometimes, I feel they make laws for their personal consumption not for the people. If the laws are indeed made for the people, they will definitely be published online via open access platforms.

It is appalling for legislators to make laws for the people and still expect them to pay to have access to them. That is the height of irresponsibility.

Some ministries, departments etc are even worse. You just read somewhere, a policy or regulation has been made, to access it becomes a challenge except 'you know someone that knows someone'.

Access to laws ( legislations, regulations and court decision) should never be commercialised as currently done in Nigeria. It should never be in the hands of private individuals who are set to restrict access to make profit. NO!

The last time I checked, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary are public institutions, and the people should never be made to pay to access their outputs.

Sadly, I don't think the Nigerian Bar Association HQ, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Attorneys-General of States have seen any reason our laws should never be commercialised and put a stop to the status quo.

No private or public institution that benefit from the current commercialisation resulting in restriction of access is greater than the people.

Laws and judgements are made for the people not the other way round, and open access to these resources is not negotiable.

The created websites of these institutions are not for decoration but for easy access to their outputs/resources.

How open is our democratic society?
AFAM OSIGWE