The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stressed the need for a unified, coordinated, and trust-driven approach to government communication, describing it as critical to the successful delivery of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Idris made the call during an interactive session with Directors of Information and Resident Information Officers (RIOs) on Grade Levels 14 to 17, deployed across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
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The session, held on Thursday in Abuja, was themed “Aligning Public Information with the Renewed Hope Agenda: Rebuilding Trust Through Effective, Transparent Communication.”
The Minister emphasised that public trust remains the most valuable asset in government communication, noting that information managers must be guided by honesty, credibility, and consistency.
“Public trust is our most important capital. Once credibility is lost, no amount of messaging can fix it,” Idris said.
He warned that fragmented messaging and parallel communication channels weaken government credibility and confuse citizens, insisting that the Federal Government must speak with a single, clear, and consistent voice.
“We are one government serving one national interest, and our communication must reflect that unity,” he added.
Idris urged Resident Information Officers to see themselves as active partners within their host MDAs rather than passive observers.
He encouraged them to engage proactively with Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and agency leadership, stressing that professionalism, relevance, and initiative are essential to earning trust and influence.
Addressing the challenges posed by misinformation and the speed of digital media, the Minister highlighted the importance of timely and accurate communication, warning that delays often create room for false narratives.
While reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to freedom of expression, he said such freedom must be exercised responsibly.
The Minister also outlined measures being taken to strengthen professionalism within the information cadre, including mandatory periodic reporting, improved deployment processes, continuous training, and stronger institutional support.
He disclosed that efforts are underway to restore the National Institute of Public Information to enhance capacity building for public communicators.
He concluded by calling for teamwork and mutual respect among information officers, reminding them of their central role in projecting government policies and achievements in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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The event was attended by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman; the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Ogbodo Chinansa Nnam; the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Mohammed-Ali, represented by the Editor-in-Chief, Mr Mufutau Ojo; the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Ndace; and the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Malam Salihu Dembos, among other dignitaries.