Rafiu Bolaji Uthman , director general, Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) is a distinguished information officer, career journalist and Civil Servant par excellence.
Uthman was part of the State Information and Economic Teams researching, documenting and preserving enduring records of the processes and impacts of plans, policies and programmes on the State development and cultural patrimony.
He also served as member of various Government Committees and engaged with development partners bringing to bear his experience and vast knowledge cum understanding of the State development milestone and heritage mosaic to achieve a brighter rewarding future for Lagos State.
Uthman spoke to peter ugwu on what the significances of proper records and information management in governance.

An Overview of LASRAB
LASRAB formally came into legal existence as a Lagos State Government agency pursuant to Law 22 of 2007; the Bureau is under the supervision of the Ministry of Information and Strategy. Administratively, LASRAB took-off on 1st August, 2008 but effective operation began on 1st December, 2008.

It is a public Institution or Agency established by law and mandated to regulate, preserve and disseminate accurate records of enduring value on Lagos state in a professional manner, employing best practices in information and knowledge management.

Our functions extend to regulating, controlling and management of records and archives of Institutions and Establishments operating within Lagos State. 

We also concerned with the role of collecting and preservation of historical identities of Lagos State.

LASRAB shoulders the strategic maintenance of modern and credible information warehouse (records and archives institution) that captures full and accurate records on Lagos State that meet the needs and interests of clients.

We also secure global innovative solutions and best practices for continuing management of records/archives; enriching and using records and archives as valuable assets for preserving Lagos State heritage and provide a database for planning and access to information for good governance and research in Lagos State.

LASRAB has also provided the schedule for records management in Lagos State civil service.

 We have successfully carried out our statutory responsibilities as aforementioned including undertaking research and disseminate knowledge on the preservation and management of public, private, and historical records and established and implemented procedures for the transfer of public records of enduring value, for preservation and management in the State Archives or such archival repository.

Today, LASRAB is a model on records and information management in Nigeria.

Records Management in Pre-LASRAB Era
Prior to LASRAB establishment, records were managed in a haphazard manner.

There was actually no institution, unit or office so designated as archives within the State and even with Institutions.

 In other words, there was no regulatory body to streamline how things should be organized in that sector.

There were evidences of certain valuable documents dumped in cartoons, containers and sometimes in saves that were exposed to rain.

In fact, records were stocked in toilets and staircases. Things were in a disorganized manner. 

Proper Records Management and Economic Planning
Of course, the nexus between the two is same with information and proper management.

Information and data are critical resources for planning and management, particularly for allocating or scheduling of resources; for protecting and claiming rights, obligations and for value sharing and cultural collation.

 Before now, people did not know much about history of Lagos State. Many said it is a no man’s land; everybody owns Lagos and there are no indigenous Lagosians.
 
But LASRAB coming into be, harnessing of the facts and making them available, the public are now better informed. Apart from that, Lagos State Government so much relies on data and information to pursue numerous projects we see in places.

The sector is very paramount in development of Lagos State.

 One thing we proud ourselves in the State is about proper documentation.

 Our documentation process is inclusive-governance-process, where stakeholders’ opinions are sort and conclusions of such engagement are contained in a report which forms part of inputs into budget and programmes.

 LASRAB is the stakes custodian of these very important documentations.

They assist government to know what the situation was yesterday and updated version are basically on issues of the moment. 

And with the benefits of doubts you can make clear projects about the future.

Nigeria in the Comity of Archive Nations
Well, archives and archives management is endangered and in precarious situation in Nigeria, particularly at the national level.

You find that in Nigeria we have a very low culture as far as preservation of documents is concerned.

Nigerians read very poorly; they read mainly to pass examinations, after that, they throw away the books.

People also read newspapers just to catch time.
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 People don’t actually read in-depth or in-between the lines.

In other countries, people read, especially those who occupy the policy making realms to ask themselves, what was the policy like in the past?

That is why archives provide a filling, framework to judge opinions and to drink from the experiences-the perfections and imperfections in the past.

Archive is a societal memory; a warehouse of accumulated experience for the civilization of the people.

 Although archives in Nigeria is in a precarious situation, but then Lagos State Government is charting a new course to see that archives is a critical element in governance and development through this formalized structure; the first of it kind, with its grandeur and opulence.

Today, LASRAB functions not just as media resource, but as a historical site. In a accordance with our vision, LASRAB in the shortest time will be a first class global information repository and data bank on Lagos State.      
 
Employment Generation
There are so many ways we can grow the sector for employment generation.

 Through voluntarism people can get to know more about the sector and professionals putting their thoughts on records and information management can lift the industry to an enviable height.

 And our undergraduates and graduates alike should develop research skills.

A hallmark of an archive is its ability to create and warehouse as many records as possible.

The current level of students and graduates alike, particularly those in the Social Humanities discipline should take it upon themselves to conduct research on subjects of significant interest to the society.

 For instance, today the country is in a very serious security risk. It is affecting the social fabrics and cohesion of the society. So, we need to find out who we are, the things that unite us.

Place of ICT in Archives and Records Management
ICT is a platform for provision of archival services.

 It is an instrument for achieving a global information repository. ICT is a critical resort; we are in the world of information.

 Such information must be available to the people in the way and manner that are desirable at a reasonable cost effective and efficient manner.

These can be enhanced through the deployment of ICT. For example in Lagos State Government under His Excellence, Mr. Babatunde Fashola is apt in the deployment of ICT for e-governance. At the point of its commissioning, we were provided with a Server that enables us to stand on our own.

 Ad progressively we are going to develop our electronic management system. The server has enabled us to do internet service; that is the automation of our work processes.

Government has also procured State-of-the-Art equipment that enables us produce documents in a digital format and convert hard copy records into microfilms called e-archives write-ups.

 All strategic sections in the Bureau have ICT elements. These allow for knowledge exchanges.

These are because we function as a knowledge management agency; we try to share knowledge contained in the archives with the public.

 In lieu of that, students from Universities, Polytechnics and Collages of Education do come here to reinforce their knowledge on civics studies.

Synergy with Public and Private Institutions  
We have been enjoying goodwill from other older archiving institutions, particularly the National Archives of Nigeria (NAN), Ibadan.

They provided us with necessary leverage for us to come into the scene. Meanwhile, we have been able to also influence the National Archives in terms of modernity and transformation.

Organizations like Records and Information Awareness (RIMA) Foundation has been our partner since our take off.

The foundation is a critical stakeholder to us, even as an NGO. For instance with the synergy we were able to host the very first archives day in the annals of Nigeria. And arising out of our modest reforms and innovative sector, other emerging archives have been coming around.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) team recently visited asking for our assistant for them to get their footings. And we are very ready to share knowledge and expertise with whoever cares. University of Ilorin also visited us in view of their quest to establish an archive centre.

Other states are also paying us visit to borrow a leaf; Lagos remains the first in information management in Nigeria; there is no archives that can compete with us presently in terms of facilities.

Our repository is outstanding. It can compete with any archive in any emerging economy.

Legislation on Retention Period
Talking about legislation, especially the retention period as widely craved for among some practitioners is not such that demands legislation. I think it is a mere legislation that should flow from enabling environment.

Under the law that established LASRAB, we are empowered to make legislation regulating records management in the state and sequel to that we have made concerted effort in that aspect.

Ours in Lagos is working; however, we expect them at the national level to see to the national retention period legislation.

In our public service whenever they have any change, they invite us to do records appraisal, which is the best practice; to determine what to do with disposition or otherwise.

 I must also said that there is a need for the national to quickly review the law establishing the national archives to let it be in-tune with modern realities. It has seemed to have become a national archive of old order.

 I think that is why they have been trying to add records management to their own too. That will make it a ‘living organism’ and not a backyard of wasted records.