Section 31: Interpretation

In this Act-
"applicant" refers to any person who applies for information under this Act;
"application" refers to any request for information made under this Act;
"Court" means a High Court or Federal High Court respectively.
"Foreign State" means any State other than the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
"Information" includes all records, documents and information stored in whatever form, including written, electronic, visual images, sound, audio recording. etc.
"public institution" means any legislative, executive, judicial,
administrative or advisory body of the government, including boards, bureau, committees or commissions of the State, and any subsidiary body of those bodies including but not limited to committees and sub-committees which are supported in whole or in part by public fund or which expends public fund and private bodies providing public services, performing public functions or utilizing public funds;
"public record or document" means a record in any form having been prepared, or having been or being used, received, possessed or under the control of any public or private bodies relating to matters of public interest and includes any-
(a) writing on any material;
(b) information recorded or stored on other devices; and any material subsequently derived from information so recorded or stored;
(c) label, marking, or other writing that identifies or describes anything of which it forms part, or to which it is attached by any means;
(d) book, card, form, map, plan, graph, or drawing;
(e) photograph, film, negative, microfilm, tape, or other device in which one or more visual images are embodied so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproduced;
"Minister" means the Minister charged with responsibility for information
"person" include a corporation sole and body of persons whether corporate or incorporate; acting individually or as a group; "personal information" means any official information held about an identifiable person, but does not include information that bears on the public duties of public employees and officials.