Information minister Mohammed Idris says President Bola Tinubu’s government will clean Nigeria’s often contested social register.

He also promised to ensure adequate publicity of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation activities.

The minister made the promise in Abuja when his humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation counterpart, Betta Edu, visited him.

Mr Idris said the ministry would provide effective coverage for the ministry’s activities, which he noted were targeted at addressing humanitarian crises and poverty reduction.

“The social register has been disputed in the past by state governors and many stakeholders. So, the first assignment of the humanitarian minister is to strengthen that document,” Mr Idris explained. “The social register needs to be clean so that everyone will have faith in the document. The Register is very important because, without data, planning becomes very difficult.”

The minister added, “Our job here is to ensure that every policy and programme of the government is publicised to ensure better understanding. Such good understanding will generate goodwill from the public.

“So, you have come to the right place. We have Federal Information Centres across the country and representation in the 774 local government areas through the National Orientation Agency.”

Mr Idris also mentioned that the ministry has the News Agency of Nigeria, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Nigerian Television Authority and Voice of Nigeria.

“As a public institution, we have the responsibility to report government activities in the best, most honest, positive and transparent manner,” Mr Idris pointed out.

The information minister said Mr Tinubu’s eight-point ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda was rooted in being truthful, honest, transparent and accountable.

“This commitment to the truth is what this ministry upholds. We are so happy with the way you quickly identified the need for this partnership. It is very important. I assure you that we will work with you to ensure that all your programmes are propagated to Nigerians,” noted Mr Idris. “All hands will be on deck. We will continue to collaborate and engage with you all the way.”

Ms Edu said the visit was to build a partnership that would help propagate the programmes of her ministry.

She explained that Mr Tinubu had made certain commitments through the eight-point agenda with food security and poverty eradication as top priorities.

(NAN)