By Usman Walin Gungura, Bauchi
Bauchi State Ministry of Information and Communication, has organized a one-day Sensitization Workshop for Local Government Information Officers to boost voter registration in the state.
The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Information and Communication, Usmam Shehu Usman, while declaring the workshop open at the Development Exchange Center in Bauchi on Tuesday, informed that the initiative became necessary as it aimed at educating the information officers on the importance of voter registration and equipping them with strategies to mobilize citizens, particularly within their various localities to participate actively in the process.
Usmam Shehu emphasized the need for the citizens to register and participate in the electoral process for development of their areas.
He unfolded that Bauchi State government, in collaboration with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and National Orientation Agency (NOA), is working hand in hand to mobilize, strengthen awareness and education on voter registration, with INEC providing registration points in all LGAs.
The commissioner comnended and appreciated the people-oriented Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed for his moral and financial support by approving and bankrolling the workshop, among other initiatives of the ministry for the betterment of the citizens, describing voter registration as a fundamental step in solidifying Democratic governance.
Hon. Shehu stressed that voter registration made citizens become bonafide voters and by extension, key stakeholders in selecting leaders at all levels of government.
He commended INEC for making the registration exercise ongoing, providing every LGA with specific registration points.
The commissioner expressed concerns that Bauchi, being one of the most populous states in Nigeria, is always recording very poor voter turn out despite having good number of registered voters.
“It is a great source of concern to see that only less than 50 per cent of our registered voters used to show up during election,” the commissioner said.
He urged the participants to listen carefully and make proper use of what they have learned to mobilize and educate the targeted people in their various LGA’s as information officers responsible for disemination of government policies and programmes for development.
The commissioner commended Alhaji Nasiru Mahe, who is the State Director of (NOA) and Dr. Yusuf Musa Yahaya, of Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi for the presentation of the two important and educative papers, titled “Voter Participation Towards National Development” and Voter Apathy: Its Implications to National Development respectively.
The representative of the state’s 20 LGA’s
Danladi Abdul Baza, Information Officer, Darazo LGA, commended the state Commissioner of Information for organizing such an important event, that this is the first of its kind in the history of Commissioners of Information in the state to bring together Information Officers in the LGA’s to train and involved them in propagating government policies and programmes.
He assured that they will justify the confidence reposed in them by educating and mobilizing people in their various localities on the importance of voter registration.
