The Senate Committee on Information on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction with the inadequate budgetary provisions earmarked for the Ministry of Information and National Orientation in the N27.5 trillion 2024 budget.
This matter came up during the ministry’s budget defence after the Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, outlined a comprehensive vision for implementation in the upcoming fiscal year.
The minister highlighted his plans for the ministry, including the launch of the National Values Charter (NVC), aimed at reorienting national values and attitudes. He emphasized the necessity of engaging in a national conversation to rediscover eroded values, intending to pave the way for a better Nigeria.
Additionally, the minister proposed the initiation of a national and international branding campaign to showcase Nigeria’s abundant natural and cultural resources.
Also, plans were put forth for regular press briefings and media engagements involving cabinet members and senior government officials to keep the public informed about government projects and programmes.
However, following the minister’s promising initiatives, the committee raised concerns regarding the budget’s insufficiency to effectively implement these visionary programmes.
Senator Kenneth Eze, the committee’s chairman, expressed dismay over the inadequate provisions, emphasizing the pivotal role of the Information Ministry in shaping the country’s narrative.
Senator Eze pointed out the sensitivity of the Information Ministry and stressed the need for proper funding, especially in the context of the country’s aspirations for a renewed hope agenda. He questioned the absence of allocations for crucial agencies such as the Nigeria Press Council and APCON, signalling potential challenges in their functionality without sufficient funding.
The committee pledged to investigate this matter further to ensure that the Information Ministry receives the necessary support for the implementation of its proposed initiatives, emphasizing the critical role of information dissemination in bridging the gap between the government and the people.
