The Federal Government has restated it’s commitment to build trust between government and its citizens.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, made this known when the Special Assistants (SAs) to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement paid him a visit on Monday in Abuja.
According to the minister , the synergy between the ministry and the SAs is very important considering the outcome of the Ministry’s community engagements in the Northwest states of Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna.
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“It is the idea of the administration of President Tinubu to build trust that we think has actually gone away between the Nigerian public and their leaders.
“And once that trust is lost, it becomes very difficult for the government to communicate honestly and responsibly; and for those who should consume the information to believe and understand.
“So, when we came here, what we said we are going to do is to rebuild that trust. Everything we have done since we came here is to ensure that, that trust is rebuild.
“And the trust can only be rebuilt when you pass information timely, honestly, patriotically and the best way possible. This is because, you cannot build trust when you tell people what they know is not true.
“Therefore, it is our duty to communicate government programmes and actions. It is also encumbent upon us to tell Nigerians exactly the way it is in a way that will engender that trust that we want.
“We believe that, once it is established, it becomes very easy for Nigerians to trust government policies, programmes and actions, and this will generate goodwill for the government,” Idris said.
The minister noted that trying to embellish information just because an individual wants Nigerians to perceive it in a way that is not factual would not help any government.
He stressed that Tinubu has always maintained the position that “we must communicate with Nigerians honestly, transparently and timely; and we will continue to do that”.
Idris further stated that what the SAs are bringing to the table as representatives of the Federal Government in their various communities is remarkable, because, they feel the pulse of Nigerians.
Speaking earlier, the SA to Tinubu on Community Engagement in charge of North West, Alhaji Abdullahi Yakasai said they were at the Ministry to seek for partnership.
Yakasai said they work with communities and some people don’t know what the government is doing, and hence, the need to pass information to the grassroot on what government is doing to develop the country.
“Our people depend on radio stations to know what government is doing , that is why as a spokesman of the Federal Government, we want to partner with you”.
Similarly, Yakasai’s counterpart in charge of North Central, Mrs Abiodun Essiet, said, they would not be able to do much without collaborations.
Essiet explained that there is a disconnect that they need to bridge, adding that, they had identified the gap between the Federal Government and the people on how the policies and programmes of government is felt.
She maintained that their responsibility is to ensure a feedback on government policies and programmes and the need for review if necessary.
“This is not about the president alone, because, this is democracy which is about the people. We are here to build synergy and also get feedback from the Federal Government and get back to the people”.
In same vein Essiet’s counterpart in charge of South West, Moremi Ojudu said, community engagement play vital role, adding that they also play two roles.
“We take information from the top and break it down at the grassroot or community level and we also get response from the grassroot back to government.
“The Federal Government is doing so much, but it seems people at the grassroot don’t get to know about them, and I believe that is why this task is created, to bridge the gap,” Ojudu stressed.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the SAs in charge of North East, South East and South-South were not present and Yakasai apologised on their behalf.
NAN also reports that those in company of the Minister include, the Managing Director/CEO of NAN, Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, the Director- General of Voice of Nigeria, Malami Jibrin Baba-Ndace and others.
