Information minister Mohammed Idris has vowed to keep his mouth shut rather than propagate propaganda that solely benefits President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Mr Idris said the president mandated him to restore trust and honesty in public communication. He stated this in Abuja at the 60th anniversary celebration of the National Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
“I have the blessing and approval of my principal, President Bola Tinubu, who appointed me to say it as it is, but in a palatable manner. He directed that trust must be returned to public communication. That is the only way people or citizens will respect and always want to listen to the government.
“We will keep doing that till the end of my job here,” the minister said.
According to him, it is better to always tell people the truth and for them to recognise that you are telling them the truth.
“Trust and honesty must be restored in public communication. That is why, if I don’t have information about something, I will rather keep my mouth shut than reproduce ignorance,” he stressed.
In her keynote address, Liberian former Vice-President Jewel Taylor narrated her journey through stigma and criticism and her ability to change the narrative and people’s negative perception of her.
Ms Taylor commended NIPR, adding that politicians’ lives revolve around crisis management, and therefore, public relations remains an effective tool for addressing the challenges.
She added that public relations had been an activity in African society even before the colonial masters arrived.
(NAN)