The National Information Council (NCI) has approved three requests by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to improve citizens’ engagement through popular synergy between governments at the Federal and State levels.…
The council comprising all the information agencies at the Federal level and State Commissioners of Information which met at an extraordinary session in Jos, Plateau State said greater collaboration between the different levels of government will increase citizens’ understanding of government activities, programmes and policies.
One of the memoranda presented by the NOA was for the adoption of the Agency’s Patriotism and Ethics First (PEF) programme as an induction training platform for parliamentarians at both the Federal and State levels.
The Federal Executive Council, senior cadre civil servants and some para-military organizations have already adopted the PEF in a bid to underscore the need for public officers to imbibe basic patriotism education in the discharge of their functions.
The NCI also agreed that all State Commissioners of Information should work with the NOA to activate all platforms for citizens’ engagement such as traditional rulers, religious organizations, town unions and local government assembly among others.
Also adopted and approved by the NCI was NOA’s proposal for synergy between the Agency and States of the Federation on the use of the Federal Government’s Change Begins with Me campaign materials on State Government owned media houses with a view to achieving citizens’ engagement on the principles of the campaign.
Responding to the three memos presented by NOA at the NCI Extraordinary Meeting with the theme, “Hate Speeches, Fake News and National Unity”, the Honourable Minister of Information, admonished all State Governments to take advantage of the Agency’s spread and efficiency in the States and Local Government Areas for effective mass mobilization and public sensitization, commending the apolitical stance of the Agency.