BRIDGING COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE

Communication means different things to different people. To some persons, it is the exchange of ideas, views and beliefs, while others view it as a process of transmitting ideas, information, news, feelings and opinions from a source to a destination through a medium. But, the communication I mean here is business wise! It is the one aimed at building mutual harmony and understanding with the people; where meanings and feelings are shared. This is because, for far too long, the people have been made to believe that their views do not matter in decision making processes. This may partially be one of the reasons unwarranted behaviors or actions are often exhibited against any government policy, no matter how well or bad there may be. In advanced nations, no government toys with public opinion, because it is the people's sentiment. Hence, before any important decision is articulated and

implemented, there normally conduct a referendum to ascertain the popular opinion. Editorial comments of various news media are also taken seriously while formulating policies, because, the power of the media as the molder of public opinion cannot be overlooked. This was why Thomas Jefferson, former United States President in 1787 said: “Where it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate to prefer the latter”. This is because; the media serves as the intermediary between the government and the people. While the print media is meant for those who are functionally literate, the government should capitalize on it to reach them because; they are to some extent crucial in determining whether a policy works or fails. Also, Nigeria needs community radio stations to complement the conventional media. Though we will still face the challenge of opinion leaders who

will always distort the media messages and give it their own narrow interpretations so as to misguide the people, and have them think and act their own way! The government should ensure that the would-be community radio is run in various Nigerian languages the people can understand. According to report, it cost about $30,000 to establish a community radio station. Some African countries like Ghana, Kenya etc have many community radio stations which have greatly helped in raising awareness, educating the local people, entertaining and touching their lives. However, the existing broadcast stations in the country have tried, but, there are more works to be done. For example, there are some parts of the country you would go, and it will be very difficult to receive the Radio Nigeria Network News. Instead of hooking up to the network news, some of the state government owned radio stations prefer to broadcast their own news or air more commercials than join

the network news. The fact is that, some of these state government owned radio stations are closer to the people than any of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria FRCN stations across the federation. I don't want to talk about the television stations because it requires electricity which is lacking in some rural areas. According to the former Minister of Power, Professor Bath Nnaji, there are 2000 communities without electricity in the country. Even among those that use small generating sets widely known as “I pass my neighbor”, they prefer to watch home videos than watching and listening to news items on free TV channels like Nigeria Television Authority NTA. In January this year when Professor Anya O. Anya led the leadership of the Igbo Apex socio-cultural organization known as Ohaneze Ndi Igbo to President Good Luck Jonathan, after their closed door meeting, one the things he said to reporters was to complain about the inability of the

people to be attuned with government policies and programmes. He said: “If Nigerians got to know that the responsiveness of Mr. President is like this, may be people will recognize that perhaps a lot more is been done, because I must confess that most of the things we were told were ongoing, we didn't know were there. So there is a need to be a lot more flow of information between we the governed and those who govern us”. The question now is, if people like Professor Anya O. Anya are not too informed about the policies and programmes of the government, how then can an average Nigerian youth who spends much time in watching European Football Leagues know any of the policy thrust of the government? The only time a typical Nigerian Youth reads a newspaper is when he or she is going for a job interview. Even at that, some prefer to buy outdated current affairs booklet than a newspaper or a magazine. That is why, when you ask some of them “Who is the

Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC?” Instead of saying Engineer Andrew Yakubu, some will tell you Austine Oniwon. This was the case in a programme I attended recently when a young man stood up to pray, instead of saying “Oh Lord we commit the members of the State House of Assembly in to your hand”, he said “Oh Lord we commit the members of the National House of Assembly in to your hand” Since uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, President Good Luck Jonathan should as a matter of policy direct relevant agencies to establish community radio stations because, informed citizens makes a better society. Comrade Edwin Ekene Uhara is a young Nigerian Activist and Public Affairs Commentator. He is also the National President of Young Nigerians for Change.07065862479, [email protected]. 29, Ben Mbamalu Crescent, Achara Layout, Enugu State.

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Articles by Edwin Uhara