No Lies Telling To Defend Tinubu, FG – Information Minister Idris
BY EDMOND ODOK – Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris Malagi, says the Ministry under his watch will always tell Nigerians the truth rather than lies to defend the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
According to him; “we will always say it as it is” for the public to know and there will be no need to tell lies in defence of the government, its policies, and programmes.
Obviously in a veil reference to the immediate past administration where the social media was awash with insinuations that tag the Information Ministry and its occupant as “Lie Lie”, Alhaji Malagi declared that the ministry and the government will be transparent and truthful while giving out information to the public at all times.
Speaking shortly after his inauguration, he said the government would own up where it errs or make any mistake and try to adjust where necessary, adding that being familiar with the information industry, the dissemination of credible information would be his watchword.
Alhaji Idris Malagi, who addressed the Heads and management staff of agencies and departments under the Ministry at the Radio House, Abuja, said the focus is on driving President Bola Tinubu’s `Renewed Hope Agenda’ through the dissemination of honest and sincere information.
“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’.
Seeking support from the media and other stakeholders to deliver on his assignment, the Minister said; “National orientation will also be at the core of this ministry, in addition to the job of information dissemination as we know it,’’ adding that “in a matter of days, we would roll out our plans to Nigerians.”
Maintaining that the ministry would be accountable and open to Nigerians, he urged Nigerians to shun fake news and always clarify issues before taking it out to the public space.
Speaking earlier in her address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe pledged full cooperation from the Ministry’s management and staff as well as its agencies to ensure the Minister achieves his mandate.
According to her; “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,’’ Onwudiwe said.
