The Kano government on Thursday inaugurated an 18-member media and information policy drafting committee.

The secretary to the state government, Umar Faruq-Ibrahim, at the inauguration, said the committee would ensure accurate dissemination of information.

He said that the policy became necessary due to concerns raised by members of the public about the lack of regulation on the extent of information dissemination in the state.

Mr Faruq-Ibrahim said the decision to appoint the committee was intentional and dates back to 2023, when a conscious approach to governance was adopted.

He added that the transition committee recommended that key sectors of society be examined where there are no policies to guide the administration.

“Already, policies in the electricity sector, solid minerals, women and economic empowerment, climate change, have been put in place and they have been approved by the State Executive Council. If this policy is put in place, especially now that everybody with a phone is a journalist and can just disseminate information, it will go a long way toward ensuring accurate information for the public.

“We have an interface with security agencies relating to non-compliance by certain government appointees and members of the public with regard to information dissemination.

“The picture they are giving us is alarming, and so many members of the society have shown their concern that there is no regulation on the extent of information being disseminated,” Mr Faruq-Ibrahim said.

Mr Faruq-Ibrahim expressed confidence in the calibre of the committee’s members and urged them to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of their duties.

The information commissioner, Ibrahim Waiya, said the policy was not intended to gag the media but rather to sanitise it.

(NAN)