Information Minister promises foreign centres restoration to promote Nigeria’s image

Nigeria’s Information Minister, Labaran Maku has said that the ministry is reactivating its foreign offices to adequately project the image of Nigeria to the global community. He made this known in Abuja on Monday September 2, 2013 while speaking with journalists shortly after he met with staff and management of the Federal Ministry of Information.

Labaran Maku stated that the ministry has received presidential approval to that effect, adding that as soon as some of the logistical challenges are addressed, the foreign offices would become operational.

“Foreign posting has been approved. We need information officers in all the key embassies abroad. The question of promoting Nigeria’s image will be their daily task. They will reply to stories that are negative about Nigeria in those countries. They will write positive stories and post whatever we are doing in the nation. They would coordinate and expose us in those countries,” he reiterated.
He inferred that the officers would have to engage campaign about the opportunities for investment as well as reply to issues about Nigeria to set records right. The Minister emphasized that the foreign posting is not a luxury but crucial to the image of the country. Adding, the Federal Information Offices across the country have been revamped through the allocation of resources to enable them carry out publicity activities on the programmes and projects of government.

Talking on the Federal Government Printing Press, which is yet to become operational, Labaran Maku regretted that the funds allocated to the project last year could not be operated, assuring that the ministry would do whatever necessary in this year’s appropriation to get the printing press working. He added that for the purpose of capacity building and welfare, the sum of N100 million was expended on staff training last year.

According to Maku, unlike in the past where staff training was outsourced to consultants, under his leadership, funds for staff training have been channelled to the National Institute of Public Information (NIPI) which was statutorily established to train staff of the ministry. He further indicated that the ministry is presently according priority to staff training and development for optimal performance in service delivery.

The Minister stated that though not all the programmes relating to staff welfare have been addressed, the ministry has emphasized staff promotion so as to motivate workers to give their best in service to the nation. He said that every staff that sits for promotion examination and passes, deserves to be promoted to the next level without delay.

“With the information age in vogue, the ministry is exploring the Social Media to reach out to Nigerians in every part of the world. Resident Information Officers posted to ministries, departments and agencies should step up regular filing of reports to populate the Social Media with the activities and programmes of the Federal Government. Power supply has been stabilised in the ministry to ensure that the radio stations within the ministry operate without interruption,” the Minister explained.

He told the staff that funding has been a constraint on the implementation of some of the programmes designed by the ministry, but additional funds are being sourced from the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) to address some of the challenges.

While reminding the staff about the Made-in-Nigeria products campaign, he instructed that in order keep up the earlier practise of wearing Nigerian fabrics on Fridays, prizes have been scheduled for the best dressed staff. He thanked the staff for the industrial harmony being enjoyed in the ministry and promised that more social activities especially sports would be promoted among staff.

Source: FMI*