The Federal Government has pledged to overhaul its communication strategy and deepen its engagement with the media to enhance public understanding of its economic policies and agenda.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, made this commitment on Thursday during a meeting with the executive members of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) in Abuja.
Shifting the Narrative
Addressing the widespread misunderstanding of government policies among the public, Oyedele stated that the Ministry of Finance will now take the lead in projecting information about its own activities.
”There’s a lot of things we’re doing, and there’s a lot more we will do,” Oyedele said. “We wanted to be the ones who would project it, rather than getting it from the State House or other groups.”
The Minister emphasized that public service demands transparency and accountability. He noted that while the government has a duty to explain its decisions—even contentious ones—its planned public education initiatives would have limited reach without media support.
Driving True Accountability
Oyedele argued that an informed citizenry is better equipped to hold the government accountable. He contrasted vague social media criticisms with factual, evidence-based feedback, stating that the latter is far more likely to prompt positive government action.
To illustrate public misconception, the Minister cited the country’s foreign reserves, explaining that these funds cannot simply be spent domestically to alleviate economic hardship. He noted that such misunderstandings lead to misplaced public anger and wasted energy.
Clarifying the government’s expectations, Oyedele stressed that he is not asking the media for purely positive PR, calling such an approach counterproductive. Instead, he urged journalists to remain constructive, balanced, and factual.
FICAN Pledges Support
In his response, the Chairman of FICAN Abuja, Mr. Bassey Udo, commended the Minister’s long-standing accessibility, particularly during his previous leadership of the tax reform process.
Udo assured the Minister of FICAN’s cooperation, describing the media as a vital bridge needed to shield the public from misinformation during challenging economic times.
Looking Ahead
The FICAN Chairman leveraged the meeting to solicit the Ministry’s support for the association’s quarterly newsmagazine, BusinessLine.
Additionally, Udo invited the Minister to serve as the Special Guest Speaker at FICAN’s Annual General Meeting scheduled for February 2027. Oyedele is expected to speak on the theme: “The Fiscal Authority as a Catalyst to Realizing the $1 Trillion Economy Agenda.”
