The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) must be humble and willing to learn from the exemplary role which the Sports Minister Mr. Sunday Dare has set despite being the head of the apex ruling Sporting body in Nigeria.
The Rugby Federation, recently refused to respond to an FOI Act Request made by Sports Intelligence Magazine on February 3, 2020 which suggests that they had no regard for the law, but that was contrary to what the Sports Ministry under Mr. Sunday Dare did.
On August 8, 2019, Sports Intelligence Magazine submitted an FOI Act request to the Sports Ministry, requesting to get a breakdown of how the much talked about overpaid IAAF $135,000 which caused furor during the reign of Barr. Solomon Dalung as Sports Minister.
And on August 15, 2019 the Sports Ministry under Mr. Sunday Dare as Sports Minister acted swiftly in line with the provisions of Sections 6 of the FOI Act and appeal for an extension of time to enable the Ministry check her records.
That singular act by the Sports Ministry under Mr Sunday Dare reign clearly indicates that the Ministry has high respect for the rule of law and by extension serve as a model for other Sports Federations.
However, the Rugby Federation’s negligence to respond to the request made is a contrast to the example set by Ministry, and also a total disrespect to the laws governing Public Institutions as defined by Sections 31 of the Freedom of Information Act.
Worse still. the circumstances surrounding the two cases were different. While the Sports Minister responded to an FOI Act request made while he was not in charge, the Rugby Federation President Mr. Kelechukwu Mbagwu found it difficult to respond to what happened while in office.
However, Sports Intelligence has instituted a court suit at a Federal High Court in Lagos, compelling the Rugby Federation to comply with the provisions of the Act .
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