Roles and Effectiveness of Information Policy Regulatory Bodies and the Safeguard of Public Interest in Nigeria.

Information policy is a set of rules and regulations guiding the creation, storage, access, useand dissemination of information. This paper discusses the concept and importance ofinformation policy/information security policy. It also identified the relevant stakeholders aswell as regulatory bodies in the information policy implementation process such as ministriesdepartments and agencies of government in Nigeria. The paper adopted a theoreticalapproach by adopting and explaining the public interest theory or regulation in the context ofinformation policy objectives. Exabeam pie chart as well as Rowe’s corroborative view onobjectives of information policy was highlighted. Roles of information policy regulatorybodies were discussed. Some related studies on effectiveness of information policyimplementation were clearly stated. Several hindrances to effective implementation ofinformation policy in Nigeria were identified. The study concluded that Information policy orInformation Security policy is aimed at ensuring equitable access to information by thepublic while ensuring safety and protection of information or data classified as harmful orpotentially harmful for public consumption. To ensure the true effectiveness of the policy, thestakeholders involved in the implementation process must clearly state the policy direction orpurpose it seeks to achieve, adequate and updated technological infrastructures, avoidcompromise as well as inter-agency rivalry among the implementation agencies in Nigeria.