FIC REPORT (BENUE STATE) – Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Solomon Iorpev, has unveiled an “Information Overflow” initiative aimed at ensuring the timely, accurate and adequate dissemination of government information to citizens across the state.
Iorpev disclosed this on Thursday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Benue State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the NUJ House, Makurdi, during the Council’s Congress.
The Commissioner said the initiative was designed to bridge information gaps and ensure that citizens were adequately informed about the policies, programmes, projects and activities of the administration of Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia.
He stressed that effective communication was fundamental to good governance, noting that even well-intentioned government policies could be misunderstood or fail to achieve their desired impact if they were not properly communicated to the people.
Iorpev described journalists as critical partners in governance and vital channels for communicating government policies and programmes to the public.
He assured media practitioners that the Ministry of Information and Orientation, under his leadership, would strengthen its engagement with the media and work towards creating a more conducive environment for journalists to operate.
Information Officers Indispensable to Government Communication
The Commissioner placed particular emphasis on the professional role of Information Officers, stressing that political appointees serving as media aides and Personal Assistants could not substitute for professionally trained Information Officers.
According to him, Information Officers possess professional training in journalism, public information management and government communication, as well as institutional knowledge required for effective information management.
He said their professional roles must be recognised, strengthened and fully utilised in the dissemination of government information.
Iorpev disclosed plans to reposition Information Officers across the state through continuous professional development.
He announced that a three-day capacity-building workshop would be organised for Information Officers, adding that he had directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to issue the necessary letters to enable the officers to participate fully in the training.
He further disclosed that a separate training programme would subsequently be organised for Local Government Information Officers to strengthen information dissemination at the grassroots.
LG Information Officers to Receive Greater Support
Addressing concerns over the limited connection between Information Officers posted to Local Government Areas and the central information structure, the Commissioner declared that the situation would change.
He stressed that his responsibility as Commissioner for Information and Orientation covered the entire state, including all Local Government Areas.
Iorpev said Local Government Information Officers would henceforth receive greater attention, coordination and professional support from the Ministry.
He emphasised that government information must not be concentrated in the state capital but must effectively reach citizens at the grassroots.
The Commissioner called for a coordinated information architecture involving Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Local Governments, Information Officers and media practitioners to ensure that citizens receive credible, timely and accurate information.
He also called for stronger collaboration between the Ministry and media practitioners across the state, irrespective of their platforms or affiliations.
Iorpev expressed appreciation to Governor Alia for the opportunity to serve the people of Benue State and pledged to contribute meaningfully to the administration.
VERONICA AZEMBA
For: Head of Centre
Federal Information Centre, Makurdi.
