Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris Malagi said his ministry would drive President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” by disseminating credible information.
The minister stated this when he assumed office and held the maiden meeting with heads and management staff members of the agencies and departments under the ministry at the Radio House, Abuja.
The minister, who said he was familiar with the information industry, pledged that dissemination of credible information would be his watchword.
“Mr President did not tell me to come and lie, and this is a covenant I am going to have with you and Nigerians.
“Mr President is somebody who is a stickler for honesty, truth, and transparency.
“He has directed that we own up where there are mistakes, own up where we err, and we should not be shy to say ‘look, this is wrong, we are going to correct it’.
“National orientation will also be at the core of this ministry, in addition to the job of information dissemination as we know it,’’ he said.
Idris, who said the ministry would unveil its agenda in the next few days, sought the support of the media and other stakeholders.
In her address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe pledged that the management and members of staff of the ministry as well as its agencies would co-operate with the minister to achieve his mandate.
“There is a popular saying that information is power and without information, the citizens may never know what the government is doing in terms of policies, programmes, and projects and how they can benefit from them
“Your Excellency, it is an understatement to say that your job is enormous and key for President Tinunu to achieve his mandate,’’ she said.
The Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle, in an interview, expressed confidence that Malagi as a round peg in a round hole would record excellent performances in his new assignment.
“He has never failed in the past, and I believe he is going to succeed in this task.
“As an agency, we will do everything possible to make his tenure a success.
“We are ready; we are able and have committed workers who are going to work as they always do 24/7.
“I believe in my members of staff. I believe in their abilities, commitment, and loyalty.
“I also believe in ensuring that Nigeria attains the greatest in whatever we are set to do’’ he said. [With reports from PRNigeria]
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