Between Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Digital Communication
By BM Dzukogi,
If “Digital Communication is the use of online tools like email, social media messaging and texting to reach other individuals or a specific audience in other to share a message”, then it will be hard to blame Abdulberqy; the Special Adviser on Digital Communication, for sharing government’s position, intention or action with the Niger State audience. The Governor appointed him to the position.
The Chief Press Secretary, who is the traditional or natural holder of that forte, may as well use Digital Communication channels to do the same thing, in addition to his traditional media platforms who themselves have found digital communication outlets to bolster their speed of delivery and reach. “There are many types of digital communication, commonly referred to as digital communication channels. These include emails, phone calls, video conferencing, and many types of instant messaging like SMS and web chats. Even blogs, podcasts, and videos are considered forms of digital communication.” If a Governor has a Special Adviser on this area, then the job of a Chief Press Secretary is made easy.
The Chief Press Secretary is the standard staff of the governor who performs such functions that Abdulberqy does but of weightier issues of government or governance, policy pronouncements, actions or intentions. He/she is the official chief coordinator of the press or media activities around and between the governor, media platforms and the world. He is the official spokesman, mouthpiece or second voice of the Governor. They largely elaborate on issues for greater perspectives and simplifications in formal forms such as press conferences, arrangement of interviews, or releases to standard media outlets whether digital or print.
Also, they do some form of damage control through genuine explanations. This is not leaving out the Commissioner for Information who ought to be the overall boss of the whole information dissimination process of Government. Of course, this is not Abdulberqy’s function, he had never claimed that it is his, to my knowledge. I think he is just doing his thing as pushed by his creativity, interest and desires in alignment with what the governor wants. Remember, the Governor has a Special Adviser on Print Media as well who can make similar releases too. Or if the PRO of Ministry of Works or the Permanent Secretary there decides to make a similar release, who will stop him? The office does not make a man; the man makes the office.
Meanwhile, an SA, Digital Communication or the Chief Press Secretary can go to any media to expound or discuss any government issue for further understanding of the public. Whether it is honestly done or not is another matter all together. The matter at hand is a problem of description of duties where some people think the digital guy is usurping other people’s functions. However, 21st century communication is an admixture of channels and deliveries which could hardly enjoy exclusivity of any Chief Press Secretary, Commissioner for Information or a Special Adviser on Digital Communication.
Bida to Minna road’s story is a weighty one because it is some sort of an accursed road that previous governments have either failed or refused to do; it is a story that could be picked by anybody who is privy to the intents of government on it. You have right be shocked if Abdulberqy crafted a release on his office letter-head instead of the Chief Press Secretary but what about if he got the directive from the governor to do so?
Finally, because communication and information dissimination is so speedy today, our Chief Press Secretaries must be speedy as well, especially if they have an Abdulberqy nearby who is not only smart, speedy and strategic but a crafty tactician in positioning himself for work and his political sustainable and future. The fellow has about 24, 000 followers on his personal Facebook page while the Chief Press Secretary has less than 1000 followers as at 11pm of 15th July, 2023 on his official page. The SA digital’s audience is a valuable asset for the governor and government in terms of speed and reach. A Chief Press Secretary should be faster and more strategic not just for being the designate functionary for that duty but because he/she enjoys monthly budgetary provisions for such, and potentials in wider reach than a Special Adviser.
For the avoidance of doubt, this piece is saying that the Special Adviser on Digital Communication could have been instructed to reach the public by the Governor himself, having made a release through his office letter-head. And even if the Governor didn’t give him a direct instruction and he picked the government’s pronouncement to dissiminate, it is still not wrong because the definition of his office (as defined above) suggests reaching out to the public, with a message. 21st century is speedy with precision, that why digital communication is a primary element of operations. It has made the world simpler but more difficult.
Meanwhile, it is funny that this is an issue in the first place when the message is what should pre-occupy us which is “fixing of the failed portion of the road”. Fixing the failed portion of the road should have led us into asking fundamental questions about the road, relating to the six-month completion deadline the Governor gave himself. Such questions would have served as reminders to him that, citizens are counting the days o. But here we are wasting time on the mundane; the source of the information.
We are in a time of renewal in Niger State, let’s become critically genuine in our commentaries, please. Ask Abdulberqy when the contractor will resume site. Should we continue to put our hope in the six months give by the Governor that, the entire road would be completed. I think, this is more fundamental to growth than who is the bearer of the message.
*Dzukogi is a creative writing teen mentor based in Minna, Niger State*.
