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2013
(2) When refusing to approve a publication scheme, the
Commission shall give reasons and provide reasonable direction to
the public authority as to how it may amend the scheme so as to
obtain approval.
(3) The Commission may, upon giving six months notice
with reasons, withdraw its approval of any publication scheme.
Model
publication
schemes.
10. (1) The Commission may adopt or approve model
publication schemes for different classes of public authorities.
(2) Where a public authority in a certain class adopts a
model publication scheme which applies to that class of public
authorities, it shall not require further approval from the Commission,
but it shall inform the Commission that it is applying that model
publication scheme.
(3) The Commission may put a time limit on the validity
of a model publication scheme or, upon giving six months notice to
all public authorities using it, terminate the validity of any publication
scheme.
Other
proactive
obligations.
11. (1) In addition to the items listed in its publication
scheme, a public authority shall also–
(a) publish all relevant facts while formulating
important policies or announcing the
decisions which affect the public;
(b) provide to any person the reasons for any
decision taken by it in relation to that person;
(c) before initiating any project or formulating
any policy, scheme, programme or law,
publish or communicate to the public in
general or to the persons likely to be affected
by it in particular, the facts available to it or
to which it has reasonable access which in
its opinion should be known to them in the
best interests of natural justice and promotion
of democratic principles;
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Right to Access Information Act
2013
(d) unless there are good reasons to the
contrary, allow members of the public to
attend its meetings at which decisions
affecting them are made and shall give
adequate notice of the meetings;
(e) upon signing a contract shall publish it in
the Gazette, detailing at a minimum for each
contract–
(i) the public works, goods acquired or
rented, and the contracted service,
including any sketches, scopes of
service and terms of reference;
(ii) the contract sum;
(iii) the name of the provider, contractor or
individual to whom the contract has
been granted;
(iv) the periods within which the contract
shall be completed.
(2) It is the duty of every public authority to take steps in
accordance with its publication scheme and the requirements of
subsection (1) to provide information proactively to the public at
regular intervals through various media of communication.
(3) All materials shall be disseminated taking into
consideration the need to reach persons with disability, the cost,
local language and the most effective method of communication in
that local area; and the information should be easily accessible and
be available free or at cost, taking into account the medium used.
(4) At a minimum, the material referred to in subsection
(1) shall be made available–
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