By Peter Omopo
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stressed the need for clear and effective communication of public service reforms to prevent resistance and strengthen transparency, accountability and digital governance in Nigeria.
The minister made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, and members of the agency’s management team to his office in Abuja.
Idris said communication plays a central role in the success of any reform initiative, noting that reforms that are not properly understood often face opposition.
“Reforms must not only be implemented; they must also be effectively communicated. Where reforms are not properly understood, there is always resistance. Our duty is to ensure Nigerians understand that these reforms are designed for their greater good,” he said.
He commended the Bureau of Public Service Reforms for sustaining institutional changes across the public service, describing reform as a vital tool for national development.
The minister highlighted the digitisation of Nigeria’s public financial management system as one of the most significant reforms in recent years. He said the transition from paper-based processes has improved transparency, reduced leakages and strengthened accountability across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
According to him, the era of contractors crowding ministries at the end of the year to collect cheques has ended, as digital systems now ensure more efficient and transparent financial operations. He added that if Nigeria’s banking sector can operate seamlessly through technology, the public service can achieve similar efficiency.
Idris noted that structural reforms must be complemented by changes in attitude and mindset. He explained that the inclusion of National Orientation in the ministry’s mandate reflects the government’s commitment to promoting patriotism, civic responsibility and shared ownership of public institutions.
He also disclosed ongoing efforts to modernise and digitise Nigeria’s archival system to preserve institutional memory and prevent policy gaps.
The minister emphasised the importance of media and information literacy in combating misinformation, deepfakes and manipulation driven by artificial intelligence.
He assured that agencies under the ministry, including the Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria and the News Agency of Nigeria, would continue to publicise reform milestones and keep Nigerians informed.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms said the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with the ministry to accelerate reform communication and enhance transparency across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
He outlined key pillars of the National Strategy on Public Service Reforms, including improving governance standards, strengthening national development planning, digitising public financial management and promoting citizen engagement.
According to him, public service reform is a continuous process of strengthening institutions, improving accountability and leveraging technology to deliver better outcomes for citizens. He described the partnership with the Ministry of Information and National Orientation as critical to ensuring reforms are properly understood and sustainably implemented.
The Director-General added that digitisation reforms have significantly reduced irregularities such as ghost workers and improved payroll integrity at federal, state and local government levels.
He also called for improved compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, urging Ministries, Departments and Agencies to proactively disclose budgetary and operational information on their official platforms.
In addition, he highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance digital literacy among public servants, including training on the responsible use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to safeguard government communication systems.
