Media Managers charged on credible election

Media Managers in the Country  have been charged to use their position for effective mobilization and civic education toward ensuring credible and peaceful elections in 2015.
 This was part of the communiqué issued at the end of the 45th National Council on information meeting, held recently at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

The Council also emphasized the need for effective utilization of the media for sustainable information management in the interest of national security.
As part of its contributions at the Council meeting, Akwa Ibom State presented two Memoranda including; the need to re-enforce the use of Government Printing Press by States to ensure security of official documents as well as the need for adequate voter’s education for sustainable democratic culture. 

The Memoranda which were presented on behalf of the State by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, were all adopted by Council for implementation by States.

Represented at the meeting by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Asanga, the State Information Commissioner stated that, already, important documents like gazettes, hitherto printed by Government Press are fast fading out with the deplorable condition of Government printing presses in States across the Federation.

In a keynote address, the supervising Minister of information and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed said, the theme of the meeting “ Strategic Information Management for Credible and peaceful Election” was apt and chosen to focus on the council’s obligation to build understanding and dispel wrong perception and fears among  the electorates.
He noted that the meeting came at an opportune moment when the country is at the threshold of conducting the 2015 elections, and urged information managers to design key messages that will promote peaceful and credible elections.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Dr. Folasade Yemi- Esan, in her opening remarks had urged the council to formulate and implement public enlightenment campaign Strategies against violence and disruption of public order, using various channels of communication.

Other resolutions of the Council included the use of film as a tool of public enlightenment for credible elections and the need for the Federal Ministry of Information to partner stakeholders in the sector to prepare a draft bill that will facilitate the enactment of a law on digitization and national switch over from analogue to digital transmission.

The 45th National Council on Information meeting was attended by 376 delegates from 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as well as heads of Media organization across the country.