The Federal Government has directed information officers in federal ministries, departments and agencies to strengthen networking, coordination and relationship building as part of efforts to improve government communication and public understanding of policy initiatives, officials said at a stakeholder meeting in Abuja.
Effective government communication has been a recurring focus of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation as the administration seeks to enhance clarity and public trust.
Information officers act as the official channel between government bodies and the public, tasked with disseminating accurate information on policies, programmes and national priorities.
The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu places emphasis on transparent communication to support governance, public engagement and service delivery. The call for improved networking and relationships aligns with these aims and reflects a broader push for professionalised information management.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, made the directive during a stakeholders meeting for Resident Information Officers (RIOs) in Abuja on Thursday.
The session included officers from grades GL14 to GL17, focusing on the role of strategic communication in public service.
Idris said that “effective government communication depends very largely on trust, coordination, and clarity,” and urged officers to build strong professional relationships with colleagues, media practitioners and relevant officials.
He emphasised that accuracy and honesty are essential to earning public trust.
“You must communicate in the best way, whatever policies the government of the day has to offer,” the minister said, advising officers to engage constructively with political appointees, special advisers and media aides to ensure coherent messaging.
The minister recounted how he engaged multiple stakeholders before releasing information on the December 2025 United States bombing of a terrorist hideout in Sokoto, illustrating the importance of coordination and verification in official communication.
Former Commissioner for Information in Adamawa State, Dr. Ahmed Sajoh, told the meeting that information officers require ongoing training to perform effectively and serve as bridges between government and the public. He stressed the need for cordial working relationships with supervisors.
Prof. Okey Okechukwu, Executive Director of Development SPECS Academy, added that experience sharing among officers is key to strengthening communication practices, advising officers to support their superiors and ensure regular reporting that reaches national dailies.
Tunde Rahman, Special Senior Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties, said that understanding the mandate of the ministries and agencies represented is crucial for officers to communicate effectively for their organisations.
The directive highlights the government’s effort to improve the professional capacity of information officers and enhance public communication.
Strengthened networking and relationships among officers and with stakeholders could lead to more coordinated, credible and timely dissemination of government policies to the public.
Enhanced communication practices may also contribute to countering misinformation and disinformation, bolstering public trust in official information sources and supporting engagement between citizens and government institutions.
Federal Government officials have called on information officers to prioritise networking, coordination and relationship building as part of efforts to improve the quality and credibility of government communication.
The directive underscores the importance placed on effective public information dissemination in support of national policy awareness and engagement.
