‘PEOPLE’S FORUM’ IS ADOPTED BY THE NIGER GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT

Tunji Wusu –

Alhaji Abubakar Usman, the secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG), has said that the current administration will give priority attention to information dissemination and will introduce the “Jama’a (People’s) Forum” for active involvement.

When the Ministry of Information and Strategy’s permanent secretary, Mrs. Hadiza Mohammed Shiru, and the heads of the ministry’s divisions and agencies arrived at his office, he made this statement.

Usman stated that the government pays attention on the sector because of the crucial role that knowledge, mobilization, and enlightenment have in the success of the government’s programs and policies.

According to the SSG, the current administration, which is headed by Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, is publicity-conscious, thus all state-owned media outlets must be outfitted and revitalized for optimum information-dissemination productivity.

He tasked the ministry and its agencies with stepping up their efforts to inform the public about the policies, programs, and accomplishments of the government. He also promised that the government would continue to inspire and enhance working conditions for employees in order to increase productivity and provide services that are focused on results.

The SSG stated that “Executive orders by the state government will be considered so that state-owned media outfits will gain patronage from government agencies and parastatals for revenue generation.”

In this regard, the SSG disclosed that the administration would reinstate the Jama’a Forum, a crucial forum for civilian involvement and participation in the advancement of the state.

Prior to this, Mrs. Hadiza Mohammed Shiru, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, informed the SSG that the ministry and its agencies are in charge of monitoring governmental actions and providing the public with timely information about them.

Shiru criticized the outdated technology and decaying buildings of all state-owned media organizations and urged the government to act quickly to prevent the organizations’ impending collapse.