“A Bill for an Act to amend the Official Secrets Act 2004 and for other related matters” has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. According to the Bill sponsor, Hon. Aminu Suleiman (APC: Kano), part of the amendment sought to include listing other security agencies to the Nigerian Police Force to whom an accused person under the Act could disclose information of knowledge of a classified matter (Section 1), and increase some obsolete penalties in the provisions of the Act (Sections 4 and 7). The Bill also aims to change the title from “Official Secret Act” to “Classified Information Act” in order to properly state the intendment of the Act to protect unauthorized disclosure of classified information (Section 10).

Hon. Suleiman explained that the Bill is well intentioned to bring the Act up to par with existing realities after more than fifty (50) years of its operation. He added that the Official Secret Act, 2004 was created for the purpose of prohibiting transmission of official secrets and information which are classified and aimed principally at public officials who may tend to disclose secrets to hostile or competing nation.

The Bill which was unanimously adopted was referred to the Committee on Justice for further legislative input.