The Executive Chairman of the Zamfara State Local Government Services Commission, Alhaji Aminu Aliyu Mafara, has charged Information Officers and Assistant Information Officers to play a key role in promoting transparency, accountability, and trust at the grassroots level.
Mafara made the call while presenting certificates of attendance to 30 Information and Assistant Information Officers at the end of a capacity-building workshop held at the commission’s multipurpose hall in Gusau, the state capital.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to improve strategic communication, crisis management, media relations, and community engagement within their respective local government areas.
“As the first point of contact between government and the people, Information Officers play a vital role in promoting transparency, building trust, and driving citizen engagement at the community level,” Mafara said.
In his remarks, the State Head of Service, Alhaji Yakubu Sani Haidara, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment Department, Alhaji Garba Aliyu Gayari, commended the organizers for their foresight in hosting the workshop.
He noted that such initiatives strengthen the professionalism of public servants and enhance transparency and accountability in local governance.
Haidara emphasized that continuous training and retraining of public servants in various fields is crucial to improving the socio-economic fortunes of local governments and the state at large.
“The knowledge acquired from this workshop will equip participants for the task ahead, especially in administration, finance, and public relations,” he stated.
In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Local Government Services, Engr. Ahmed Garba Yandi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Yakubu Sanusi Gusau, said that information management is central to governance and development.
“In today’s fast-changing world, information is power. Effective management of information, especially during socio-economic challenges, requires confidentiality and professionalism in discharging assigned responsibilities,” he said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Zamfara Media Corporation and Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in the state, Bello Abdullahi Dakin Gari, described the workshop as timely and impactful.
He urged the participants to embrace professionalism, ethics, and transparency in their duties, noting that effective information dissemination at the grassroots remains essential for good governance and public trust.
