April 16, (THEWILL) — Following concerns raised by members of the public, the Kano State government has now constituted an 18-member Media and Information Policy Drafting Committee to ensure accurate dissemination of information in the state.
The committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Faruq Ibrahim, on Thursday.
Ibrahim explained that the committee was formed in response to the concerns raised by members of the public over the lack of regulation of information being disseminated in the state.
“The decision to appoint this policy draft committee is intentional. It goes way back to the year 2023 because of the transition programme put in place by the then-elected governor, such that you have a conscious approach to governance.
“The transition committee recommended that key sectors of the society, of the government, should be looked into where there are no policies, but also should be adopted so that it would guide the administration.
“Already, policies in the electricity sector, solid minerals, women and economic empowerment and climate change, have been put in place and they have been approved by the State Executive Council, and they now guide the government accordingly.
“The need for the policy to be put in place cannot be overemphasised for several reasons. The policy, if put in place, especially where everybody with their phones is a journalist and can just disseminate information, will go a long way to ensure accurate dissemination of information for the consumption of the public.
“We have an interface with security agencies relating to non-compliance by certain government appointees and members of the public with regard to information dissemination.
“And the picture they are giving us is alarming, and so many members of the society have voiced their concern about why there is no regulation on the extent of information being disseminated.
“Having this policy in place, not minding the national regulatory frameworks put in place, I think would assist us in ensuring a legal and regulatory aspect is also put in place and recognised by whoever wants to disseminate information in the state.
“Most importantly, if we have this, it will assist us, particularly the Ministry of Information and other media outlets, in authentic information to manifest. I think this is probably, in addition to upholding ethical considerations and the need to promote ethical use of information”, Faruq-Ibrahim stated.
He expressed confidence in the calibre of members of the committee who would bring their wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
On his part, the state Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Waiya, said the policy is not intended to gag the media but to sanitise it.
Waiya also explained that the policy is meant to enhance and strengthen the relationship between the government and media practitioners operating in the state.
In his remarks, the co-chairman of the committee, Mohammed Danyaro, a retired permanent secretary, assured that they would justify the confidence reposed in them by the government.
Members of the committee comprise the state Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, and Alhaji Mohammed Danyaro as the Chairman and Co-Chairman, respectively.
Others include Alhaji Ahmad Aminu, Malam Mukhtari Magaji, Malam Ado Saidu Warawa, Malam Salisu Ibrahim Fagge, Dr Abubakar Shehu Minjibir and Dr Halima Kamilu.
The rest include Hajiya Aishatu Sule, Dr Hassan Ya’u, Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Malam Sulaiman Abdullahi Dederi, Alhaji Bello Danmaisoro, Dr Saminu Umar Rijiyar Zaki, and Aliyu Muhammad, while Alhaji Sani Abba Yola and Auwalu Sa’idu Muazu will serve as the Secretary and Co-Secretary of the body, respectively.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
