FG Respects Rights Of Citizen To Access Social Media – Shittu
BY GLORIA USMAN, ABUJA – minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu has challenged Nigerians to feel free to discuss government policies and engage in responsible political debates, expose corruption and decently express their opinions via the social media, without the use of maligning or hate speech.
Shittu, who threw the challenge in Abuja while addressing participants at a National Social Media Retreat with the theme: “Social Media for Good Governance,” charged operators of social media platform to guard against the distractions it generates and focus on their respective key deliverables.
In his words; “It behooves everyone here to imbibe and promote the ideas of excellent government-citizen interaction based on the use of cultured language, publication of facts and respect for the governed as the source from which Government derives legitimacy”.
The Communications minister explained that allowing freedom of expression on the internet is proof that the Federal Government genuinely adheres to the principles of democracy, adding that the government would adopt social media in carrying out e-service delivery and use same, to shape government’s policies for good governance.
He also said that government would also propound friendly and secure policies that ensure the use of technology-based social media which are development driven and urged key players in the private sector to take advantage of the social media to achieve positive image for Nigeria.
Shittu said the National Retreat which has been conceived and birthed by Ministry of Communications was designed to among other things share knowledge and information stemming from recent research and analysis on the social media.
In her address, the Permanent Secretary, in the ministry of Communications, Mrs. Nkechi Ejele said that the government realizes the importance of social media tools and their applications for the dissemination of government policies that the event was organized.
Ejele said; “Social media is perhaps one of the most innovative inventions of recent times, with technology evolving inventions at an exponential pace, and with its relentless self-integration into various facets of our daily and national lives, it is vital that governance, the most important aspect of national life is not left behind,” she said.
In his own remarks, the representative of the Chief of Army Staff, Brigadier General Samuel Odugu said the military has discovered that internet has been a veritable tool for distribution of information which had led to the establishment of Cyber Army Command with a report center that serves current information needs of the public.
