‘Wider Consultation, Key To Economic Growth’

The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, 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 intense grassroots development in the country.
Tam-George, who stated this in his office while receiving the Rivers State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Oliver Wolugbom, during a courtesy call, pointed out that such inclusive approach to policy formulation will fast-track development in all sectors of the economy.
He said the National Orientation Agency has a critical role to play in the mobilisation and sensitization of Nigerians on government policies and programmes, and charged the agency to do more to ensure that all Nigerians are carried along in the formulation and implementation of government’s programmes and policies.
The commissioner said the policy objective of the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration was driven by the input of critical stakeholders to promote transparency and accountability in governance.
According to him, part of government effort to promote popular participation in governance was the establishment of a social media unit in the Ministry of Information and Communications 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 Wike’s development strides, especially in the building of critical infrastructure and promotion of entrepreneurial development was unprecedented.
He further assured the commitment of the present administration to the delivery of quality services to the people of the state.
Earlier, the Rivers State Director of NOA, Mr. Oliver Wolugbom, had stated that the courtesy call was to re-state the commitment of the agency to partner with the Rivers State Government in the mobilisation and sensitisation of the citizenry on government policies and programmes.
Wolugbom said the agency has enjoyed the support and goodwill of the Rivers State Government over the years, and solicited the support of the state and local governments in funding and provision of logistics for NOA to achieve its policy objectives.

Taneh Beemene