Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 challenged President Muhammadu Buharito publish the handover notes of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the official gazette of the federation.
The motion was moved by Hon. Uzom Nkem-Abonta who decried the fact that only members of the preidency had access to the document at the moment adding that “some extant laws may place restrictions on the publication of the document” although it is a public document.
He said: “Handover note would expectedly have captured the activities, projects, programmes achievements and constriants of thr last administration, including counsel to the new administration on the way forward.”
Speaking further, Abonta said publishing the notes would help legislators, especially new members and the public in general to have a peek into the true state of the nation and would help legislators perform their functions effectively.
The House then resolved that President Buhari should “publish, in the official gazette of the federation, save for information restricted by law, the Handover Note and the accompanying documents of the Administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan to enable interested Nigerians and other residents access it for information and record purposes”.
Before the House reached the above resolution through voice votes, some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including Femi Gbajabiamila and Pally Iriase, opposed the motion, arguing that the Freedom of Information Act with which the notes could be accessed.
