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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Ahead of voting on constitution alteration bills by the National Assembly, the Executive Director, Centre for African Policy Research and Advisory, Segun Adebayo has charged journalists to step up sensitisation of the citizens on the proposed legislations.
He said this is necessary to enable citizens better appreciate the import of the constitution alteration bills and other government policies.
The House of Representatives has itemised 87 proposed legislations, including the bill on citizenship and special legislative seats for women, for consideration in the review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
However, Adebayo, who spoke at the unveiling of Pitron TV, said journalists have a big role to play in helping citizens understand the government policies.
Pitron TV, according to the promoters, is out to promote policy literacy and bridge the gap between citizens and the government through data-driven and solution-oriented storytelling and deepen civic engagement.
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According to him, “Are we aware that some will soon bring money in and then buy citizenship in the country, if it is allowed in the current constitutional alterations. If Nigerians are aware, it would open the conversation on a broader spectrum and that is why we are here.
“The media can constantly have conversations to help Nigerians understand the policy development framework and the policy that we have in the country.”
Similarly, a development consultant, Mike Eboh, said while Nigeria has sound policies on paper, their execution often fails because the public is not sufficiently informed or engaged.
Eboh, who also spoke at the unveiling of the television platform, said: “Policy development starts from information. The media should not wait until policies are implemented. They must be part of the process from conception to evaluation. Without data and effective public enlightenment, even the best-designed policies will fail.
“The media must go back to the grassroots. People in the markets, farms and rural communities are the ones that the policies affect mostly. When they are uninformed, misinformation spreads and good initiatives suffer. That’s why platforms like Pitron are important, they close the gap.”
