Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris says his ministry will drive President Bola Tinubu’s `Renew Hope Agenda’ with dissemination of honest and sincere information.
The minister stated this on Monday when he assumed office and held maiden meeting with heads and management staff of the agencies and departments under the ministry at the Radio House, Abuja.
The minister, who said he was familiar with the information industry, pledged that dissemination of credible information would be his watchword.
“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 sticker of honesty, truth and transparency.
“He has directed that we should own up where there are mistakes, own up where we erred and we should not be shy to say look, this is wrong, we are going to correct it.
“National orientation will also be at the core of this ministry, in addition to the job of information dissemination that we know of it,’’ he said.
Idris who assured said the ministry would unveil its agenda, in the next few days, sought the support of the media and other stakeholders.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe pledged the collaboration of the management, members of staff of the ministry and its agencies to work with Idris to achieve his mandates.
“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, programs and projects and how they can benefit from it.
“Your Excellency, it is an understatement to say that your job is enormous and key to the achievements of mandates of President Tinubu,’’ she said.
The Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle, in an interview, expressed the confidence that Idris as a round peg in round hole, would record excellent performance in his new assignment.
“He has never failed in the past and I believe he is going to succeed in this task.
“As an agency we will do everything possible to make his tenure a success.
“We are ready; we are able and have committed workers who are going to work as they always do 24/7.
“I believe in my members of staff. I believe in their abilities, commitment and loyalty.
“I also believe in ensuring that Nigeria attains the greatest in whatever we are set to do’’ he said,
NAN reports that two other ministers were received by the permanent secretary and the management staff at the Radio House.
They are, the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister Of Tourism, ,Mrs Lola Ade-John.