By JKNewsMedia
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT projects under President Bola Tinubu are guided strictly by national interest and not political considerations, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has declared.
Addressing Commissioners for Information from the 36 states of the Federation during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Wednesday, Idris emphasised that the administration’s programmes are targeted at improving the lives of citizens across all regions without partisanship.
He said the President’s conviction is that the issues facing Nigerians do not recognise party affiliation, and as such, his government is working to ensure every state benefits from transformative policies.
“I have not seen where there are things to do, and the President refused to do because the governor of that state is not in the APC.
In everything that President Bola Tinubu has done, the focus has always been on the ordinary Nigerians,” the Minister stated.
Idris underscored that the fuel subsidy removal has created fresh opportunities for growth in the states, noting that governors across political divides have accepted the policy and are already deploying the increased revenues into critical projects.
“The removal of fuel subsidies has freed up resources that have enabled all your principals to embark on projects, delivering the dividends of democracy to your people.
“I have not seen one governor, whether in our party or any other party, who has said that we should reverse and go back to the status quo,” he said.
The Minister recalled the fiscal constraints prior to May 2023, pointing out that 27 states struggled to pay salaries, while 97 per cent of Federal Government revenue was consumed by debt servicing.
He maintained that the bold reforms and creative governance approach introduced by President Tinubu had altered that trend, bringing stability and enabling governments to refocus on development.
Calling for stronger alignment between federal and state governments, Idris urged the Commissioners to support the President’s vision of sustainable prosperity.
“Nigeria is on a journey towards enduring prosperity for everyone, and my message for all of you is to come and join this train to take Nigeria to the destination that Mr President promised he is going to take it to,” he said.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation would soon lead a Federal Government delegation to inspect projects in selected states of the South-South and North-East.
According to him, the visits form part of citizen engagement initiatives aimed at assessing the impact of government programmes and strengthening feedback mechanisms.
He also called for the institutionalisation of regular meetings with the Commissioners to harmonise strategies and communicate government efforts more effectively across the country.
Idris further encouraged the Commissioners to maximise the use of public communication platforms within their reach. He cited the National Orientation Agency, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Voice of Nigeria (VON) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) as tools that could strengthen community engagement and enhance public sensitisation on government policies.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting delegation, Borno State Commissioner for Information and Chairman of the Commissioners for Information Forum, Professor Usman Tar, said the forum had resolved to work together across party lines to advance national values, unity and integration.
“Seated before you are commissioners from different political parties from different regions of this country. Therefore, we represent the broad spectrum of the Nigerian Federation.
“We are not here on a party basis or any narrow interest. We are here on a national platform to discuss ways and means of promoting our national interest, values and orientation,” Tar said.
He assured the Minister that the forum is ready to collaborate with the Federal Government in advancing national campaigns on unity and value reorientation.
He pledged that the Commissioners would support the Ministry’s town hall meetings through mobilisation and sensitisation to increase their reach and effectiveness.
The meeting also had in attendance the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) and National Orientation, Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam; Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga; Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media Affairs, Tunde Rahman.
Others present included the Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority, Abdulhamid Dembos; Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Baba Ndace; and Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Mohammed Bulama.
