Fake News Creating Mistrust between Citizens and Govt – DG BPSR

The Director General Bureau of the Public Service Reform, BPSR, Dasuki Arabi, says that the growing incidence of fake news and hate speech among internet users has created trust deficit between the citizens and Government.

Arabi, disclosed this at a one-day training for Communication Managers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, in Abuja.

The BPSR boss noted that government communication managers must be proactive rather than reactive in processing public information.

“Governments expect public information managers to be effective in information management, especially in an era of fake news, tilted and slanted news analysis and outright falsehood on social media,” he said.

Dr. Bala Mohammed, a senior lecturer at Bayero University, Kano; and Mr. Yushau Shuaib, a Public Relations expert, in their separate papers, said fake news have the capacity to ‘kill’ trust, being an existential threat to peace and national unity.

“It is imperative that government adopt stringent measures, embark on massive reorientation, deploy effective crisis management skills to tackle fake news and hate speeches,” they said.

By PRNigeria