Repositioning public information machinery for sustainable development By Ibrahim Mohammed
Information management refers to the deliberate collection, planning, organizing, analysing and dissemination of information concerning programmes, policies and actions to a targeted audience through the media of mass communication with the expectation of getting feedback. It is conceived as a system which consists of people, equipment, and procedures, and it is designed to gather, sort, analyse, evaluate, and distribute needed, timely and accurate information to diverse information stakeholders.
According to Mohammed (2012), public information management in Nigeria has undergone tremendous transformation with each passing phase in technology, economic, political and socio-cultural development. It is worthy of note that public information management in every society is reflective of the prevailing socio-economic, cultural and political conditions of that society.
For example, on the eve of Nigeria's independence, the predominant preoccupation of public information managers was preparing the minds of Nigerians towards political independence; while during the Civil War in the 60's and post war reconstruction in the 70's, the Federal Military Government of the time concerned itself with healing the wounds and promoting national integration through the pursuit of the famous three Rs- Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation.
In contemporary times, it is engaged with counterterrorism communication campaign on the on-going war on Boko Haram insurgency amongst other emerging security challenges. It should be noted that information has now become an issue in a new form.
Communication experts opine that Governments are daily being subjected to pressures from emerging information forces in society. We now live in the Digital Age, in which information, in a global knowledge economy, has become the supreme commodity. It is now a precious commodity for the citizen. Citizens are demanding and seeking more information about many activities in society.
It is instructive to note that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation is at the heart of information policy, setting standards, delivering access and encouraging the re-use of public sector information. It provides a wide range of services to the public, information industry, government and the wider public sector relating to finding, using, sharing and trading information.
The ministry has the statutory mandate to lead in the management of the image and reputation of the people and Government of Nigeria through a professional and dynamic public information system that facilitates access by citizens and the global community to credible and timely information about Nigeria.
Thus, the Ministry, since independence has been responsible for preparing the minds of the people about the activities of government, influencing public opinion and generally
0 Comments