The Edo State Head of Service, Barr. Anthony Okungbowa has asserted that Civic and Public Service are the fulcrums of governance, noting that the state civil service is one of the most digitalised in the country.
He stated this in Benin City, the Edo State while playing host to the leadership of the Edo State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), led by Dr. James-Wisdom Abhulimen.
Okungbowa who said that the state government has moved past the level of paper documentation as its ministries and parastatals are fully digitalised, sued for collaboration with the state NIPR towards training PROs in the state government ministries and agencies.
Earlier in his address, the chairman of the NIPR in Edo State, Dr. James-Wisdom Abhulimen, said that over the years, public relations practice has evolved as a critical component of corporate governance and leadership in the country.
Abhulimen explained that the practice involves identifying issues, evaluating public attitudes, identifying the policies and procedures of individual and corporate organization with the public interest, planning and executing a programme of action towards earning positive perception, public goodwill and understanding.
He revealed that the body is empowered by law to regulate the practice and direct the development of Public Relations as a profession in Nigeria, adding that the law also makes it illegal to practice Public Relations, under any title, in Nigeria without NIPR certification.
Abhulimen maintained that the proliferation of unlicensed PR professionals is worrisome and detrimental to the credibility and integrity of the profession, hence, he called for the collaboration of the Edo State Government to rid the society of the menace.
He said: “Many who hold key PR positions in both public and private sectors today are not qualified NIPR members, unlike what obtains in other noble professions like the NBA, NMA and ICAN.
“The NIPR Act criminalizes the practice of Public Relations by non-licensed persons including employees of government, information officers, spoke-persons, PROs, Media/Corporate Communications Heads, no matter the nomenclature.
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“We advocate for the integration of Public Relations professionals into key strategic decision-making organs of government. Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies should have PR Practitioners as spokespersons who should be at every management and important meetings particularly where decisions and policies are formulated”.
The state NIPR Chairman commended Godwin-Obaseki’s administration for its giant strides in the state, particularly in the provision of an enabling environment for workers, which according to him has positively impacted the discharge of their responsibilities.
He also appreciated the administration of Obaseki for its role in the creation of the Information and Public Relations Officer Cadre during the 45th National Council on Establishment, 2023 in Abuja
The NIPR boss, however, sued for support and from Edo State government commitment in the area of collaboration that includes capacity building, knowledge sharing, professional development initiatives and elimination of quackery in the PR Practice.
“The Chapter is in dire need of a Secretariat and a vehicle to facilitate smooth operations. We strongly appeal that the Head of Service uses his good offices to facilitate this or guide the Chapter through the process”, he stated.
TheWitness
