The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called for a unified and coordinated government communication strategy to strengthen public trust and advance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Idris made the call on Thursday in Abuja during an interactive session with Directors of Information and Resident Information Officers (RIOs) deployed across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The session was held under the theme “Aligning Public Information with the Renewed Hope Agenda: Rebuilding Trust Through Effective, Transparent Communication.”
The Minister described public trust as the most valuable asset of government communication. He urged information officers to uphold honesty, credibility and consistency.
“Public trust is our most important capital. Once credibility is lost, no amount of messaging can fix it,” Idris said.
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Idris warned that fragmented messaging weakens government credibility and confuses citizens. He stressed that the Federal Government must communicate with a single, consistent voice.
“We are one government serving one national interest, and our communication must reflect that unity,” he said.
The Minister encouraged Resident Information Officers to function as active partners within their assigned MDAs. He urged them to engage regularly with Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and agency leadership.
According to him, professionalism, relevance and initiative are essential for building institutional trust and influence.
Addressing the impact of misinformation and rapid digital communication, Idris stressed the importance of timely and accurate public information.
He noted that delays often create opportunities for false narratives to thrive. While reaffirming the government’s commitment to freedom of expression, he urged responsible communication practices.
The Minister outlined measures to improve professionalism within the information cadre. These include mandatory reporting, improved deployment processes, continuous training and stronger institutional support.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has begun restoring the National Institute of Public Information to enhance training and capacity building for public communicators.
The Minister concluded by urging teamwork and alignment with national priorities, noting that information officers remain central to projecting government policies and achievements.
