Ramzey Lawaz is determined to pursue university education abroad, because he is frustrated with difficulties in researching for academic assignments in Nigeria.
The 19 year old student of Corona School has indicated interest in some universities in the United Kingdom where he plans to pursue an engineering degree.
“Getting information for research purposes in this country is a nightmare,” he said is one of the reasons for his decision. “I once had to go to the local governments’ education authorities for some information and was shocked to be refused. The PR guys told me to get my principal to write to the education secretaries of the various local government areas, through their local government secretaries. It was really frustrating, because this information ought to be available through the Internet.”
His grouse, that information is hoarded, especially in government establishments in Nigeria, is shared by many other respondents.
“Information that could be gotten in seconds through the Internet about other countries is difficult to get in Nigeria,” said Ikechukwu Onyekwere, a public affairs analyst. “I think there is an urgent need to educate the public relations units of government parastatals on the need to wake up to their responsibilities to the public.”
The spokespersons are not speaking.
The public relations officer (PRO)’s primary role in an organization is to “use all forms of media and communication to build, maintain and manage the reputation of organisations ranging from public bodies or services to businesses and voluntary organisations.
They communicate key messages, often using third party endorsements, to defined target audiences in order to establish and maintain goodwill and understanding between an organisation and its public.”
Comfort Ezeanochie, a public relations expert and member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, acknowledges that the profession has not lived up to this billing.
“The profession has not been fully defined in this country,” she said. “Most of the PROs we see in some government establishments, and even in some blue chip companies, are ignorant of their roles in the organization. Their role includes gathering news, writing press releases, developing and maintaining contact with relevant media (organizations), and promoting the company image.”
“The development of company internal communication network, editing of company’s articles, and creating awareness for the company are also part of their roles in the organization.”
Eme Ozee, a lawyer and investments analyst, is more scathing in his response to the actions of the PR officers in government establishments. “They are a lazy and incompetent lot,” he said.
“These guys are supposed to be the first point of call for any visitor who wishes to be apprised of the ministry’s duties and achievements, but they end up confusing the more. How, for instance, can the PRO of a ministry refuse to speak on how the organization has fared during a specified time? I believe most of those ministries are under-performing, and that is why the spokespersons are not speaking.”
The Lagos state coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Anthony Ani, was infuriated when the PRO of the organization, Joyce Madaki, referred a reporter who sought information on statistics of corp members to him. “What! That is the job of the PRO,” he said. “Must everything be left for me to handle? If the PRO refers such simple requests to me to handle, it means that she is not doing her job.”
Femi Maliki, press and public relations officer in the Lagos state ministry of information, refused to provide information on efforts made by the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, in reducing the unemployment rate in the state. He gave as his reason, existing civil service rules, precisely the Official Secrets Act, which prohibit civil servants from divulging government information, and directed all enquiries to his boss, the commissioner of information.
Unnecessary hoarding
In another bizarre act of withholding information unnecessarily, the Executive Secretary of the Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Education Authority in Ogun state, who gave his name as Mr Ishadare refused to provide statistical data on the number of schools within his area without authorization from the Local Government Chairman or Secretary.
“How can you just come and expect me to release this kind of official secret information without authorization?” he asked, even as a large board listing the 110 schools in the LGA sat conspicuously behind him.
Other similar laws that prevent the smooth flow of government information to Nigerians include the Evidence Act, the Public Complaints Commission Act, the Statistics Act, and the Criminal Code.
This plethora of laws results in the fact that journalists, students and other data seekers are denied access to information that is important for accurate reporting and research.
Stephen Adebayo, registrar of the NIPR, doesn’t believe that information dissemination to the public should be periodic and supports the Freedom of Information Bill.
“We should allow for some time and see how it will work out,” he said. “Information should be streamlined so there will be no distortion, so if the government says PROs should not speak to press, I believe it has its reason. The challenges of the day determines what will happen, probably the PROs don’t handle information properly.”
Ibuchukwu Eze, acting executive director of the civil Liberty organisation, says the guarding of informaton has closed the openness which characterises democracy.
“It shows that the government has something to hide,” he said. “The CLO condemns it strongly and urges the state government to reverse such policy.
“If the Freedom of Information Bill is passed, it would give the public the mandate to get information from the government.”
Chigozie Okoye, a retired civil servant, admits that the current laws seem to stifle the constitutional rights of citizens to be appraised of what their government officials have been doing in office.
“Although these laws were made to protect sensitive government information, they appear too restrictive,” he said.
“It is highly improper for civil servants to horde information under the guise of the Act,” said Mr Ozee. “What then is the duty of the numerous PROs in the bloated civil service? I believe that the high rate of corruption in the country is the reason behind all these laws.”
He goes on to advocate for increased pressure on the federal lawmakers on the need to pass the Freedom of Information Bill currently gathering dust on the floors of the national assembly.
Ramzey Lawaz is apparently not ready to wait for the passage of the law. He aspires to study in saner climes, where information is not so closely hoarded.