FG tasks information officers on networking, relationships

The Federal Government has called on information officers to adhere to principles of networking, co-ordination, relationship and effective communication to deliver on their mandate and effectively propagate the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, made the call at a stakeholders meeting for Resident Information Officers (RIOs) in Abuja on Thursday.

Our correspondent reports that the meeting was organised by the Information Ministry for RIOs from GL 14 to GL17.

According to him, effective government communication depends very largely on trust, coordination, and clarity.

“You have to understand that you are working as a minister in a way; in your own corner, but for you to also do it very well, you have to know that you must do it with a value of honesty. You must earn that trust,” he said.

“There is no way you can be trusted if you are not also honest with the way you communicate.

”So, it is important for all RIOs to win the trust of the public; that is your major capital in executing your role.

“So, my advice to you is that, please continue to network, coordinate and continue to build relationship,” he said.

According to him, if you don’t build relationship, you will not get what you want as an information officer,
He warned them against being u an opposition in the government they were serving.

”You must communicate in the best way whatever policies that government of the day has to offer.

“You must know that whoever is being appointed politically, whether it is SA media or Special Adviser or whatever, you have to work with him or her to ensure that there’s coordination.

“There is a difference between a cup that is half empty and a cup that is half full. It is for you to choose the best way to whatever information that they have,” Idris said.

The minister narrated how he handled the U.S. bombing of terrorist hideout in Sokoto in December 2025.

He said that he followed professional procedure and got what he wanted.

He explained that he contacted the presidential media aides and other before he came out with credible information.

“But at the end of the day, I got what I needed to get at that point before I went out. Sometimes it better to delay and get the accurate information than to rush and commit blunders.

“Don’t sit down there and say they didn’t tell you anything. Nobody will tell you anything, it is for you to go and find out. I had to engage everyone that I needed to engage with,” Idris said.

Also speaking, former commissioner for information in Adamawa, Dr Ahmed Sajoh said information officers needed constant trainings to effectively serve as the bridge between the people and government and to also get feedback.

Sajoh admonished them to always ensure that the relationship between them and their bosses was cordial .

“You need to imbibe some of the best characters. You build trust by your own behaviour, humility and character.

“You can make the people trust the government through your own character and behaviour.

“You bosses may come and go, but the nation remains. So, we must be loyal to our nation. It is our job to counter misinformation, disinformation and fake news,” Sajoh said.

Similarly, the Executive Director, Development SPECS Academy, Prof. Okey Okechukwu, noted that experience sharing was very important in enhancing effective communication.

Okechukwu admonished the information officers to always help their bosses, report his or her activities and ensure that at least one of the reports is published in dailies, once a month.

Meanwhile, the Special Senior Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties, Mr Tunde Rahman, said to speak for MDAs, the information officer must be aware of his mandate.

According to him, if such officer is not familiar with the workings of the organisation he or she is speaking for, communicating and carrying our the responsibilities effectively will be a challenge.

“You should also align yourselves and be familiar with the thematic areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“As an information officer, you must do your own part. Dont be afraid to seek for clarification to an issue. You must ensure that the government must not fail,” Rahman stressed.

Our correspondent reports that those in attendance included, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Mr Ogbodo Nnam, and the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Mohammed-Ali represented by the Editor-in-Chief, Mr Mufutau Ojo.

Others were the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Ndace, that of NTA, Malam Salihu Dembos and many others.