Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Austin Tam George, has urged the Federal Government to base its policy objective on popular debate and wider consultation to enhance participatory democracy and confront the many challenges facing the country.
Tam George stated this while receiving the Rivers State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Oliver Worlugbom, on a courtesy call in his office, yesterday. He pointed out that such inclusive approach to policy formulation would fast-track development in all sectors of the economy.
He said that the National Orientation Agency has a critical role to play in the mobilization and sensitization of Nigerians on government policies and programmes.
The commissioner said that the Policy objective of the Nyesom Wike administration in Rivers State was driven by the input of critical stakeholders to promote transparency and accountability in governance.
According to the Commissioner, part of government effort to promote popular participation in governance was the establishment of a social media unit in the Ministry of Information and Communication as a platform of reaching out to a geographically disaggregated audience.
Tam George, who pledged the commitment of the Rivers State Government to partner with NOA in the state, said that Wike’s development stride in the state, especially in the building of critical infrastructure and promotion of entrepreneurial development was unprecedented.
He further assured the commitment of the Wike administration to delivering quality services in the state.
Besides, the Rivers State Director of NOA, Mr. Oliver Worlugbom, had stated that the courtesy call was to re-state the commitment of the agency to partner with the Rivers State government in the mobilization and sensitization of the citizenry on government policies.
Worlugbom said that the agency has enjoyed the support and goodwill of the Rivers State government over the years, and solicited for the support of the state and local governments in funding and provision of logistic support for NOA to achieve its policy objectives.