Poor Communication by Appointees Undermining Government Policies, Analyst Warns
Policy analyst and Convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG), Bamidele Atoyebi, has raised a critical alarm about the detrimental effects of weak communication by political appointees on government programmes. According to Atoyebi, this communication deficit is significantly diminishing the impact of government initiatives and creating a wide gap between actual governance performance and public perception.
The Communication Deficit Challenge
Atoyebi emphasized that regardless of policy achievements or infrastructure delivery, the inability of officials to effectively communicate government actions to citizens often leaves many initiatives unnoticed and underappreciated. He described this as a major communication deficit, arguing that a large number of appointees have failed to match policy implementation with adequate public engagement. Drawing a comparison with the private sector, he stressed that governance requires deliberate communication strategies to ensure citizens understand policies and benefit from available opportunities.
He noted that many reforms and empowerment programmes introduced at the federal, state, and local government levels fail to gain traction because intended beneficiaries are simply unaware of them. For instance, programmes such as loans for traders, farmers, and small business owners could lose relevance if they are poorly publicised, leading to wasted resources and missed opportunities for economic growth.
Regional Disparities and Misinformation
Atoyebi also pointed to a significant communication gap in Northern Nigeria, where many government initiatives are not properly explained in local languages or presented in relatable formats. While social media has helped improve policy visibility in parts of the South, the North still faces substantial information challenges that sometimes allow misinformation to thrive. This disparity exacerbates regional inequalities and undermines national cohesion.
The analyst criticised some public officials for treating government achievements as private matters, warning that silence in the digital age is often interpreted by the public as inactivity. "If people are not told what government is doing, many will assume nothing is being done," he cautioned, highlighting how lack of transparency can erode public trust and fuel cynicism.
Positive Examples and Recommendations
However, Atoyebi commended some public office holders for combining policy delivery with strategic communication. Among those he cited were:
- Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, praised for simplifying tax reforms and improving public understanding of fiscal matters.
- Abia State Governor Alex Otti, noted for his consistent engagement with citizens.
- Minister of Interior Tunji Ojo and Minister of Finance Taiwo Oyedele, highlighted as examples of officials who have used communication to strengthen trust and shape public perception positively.
He suggested that in some instances, poor communication may also reflect weak policy execution, as attempts to compile records of achievements by certain appointees were unsuccessful due to a lack of verifiable details. Referencing recent remarks by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Atoyebi added that federal government efforts in Northern Nigeria are not receiving adequate publicity from political appointees in the region. He concluded that major development initiatives, including regional commissions established across the six geopolitical zones, require sustained visibility to achieve their intended outcomes and foster national progress.
