LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- As Nigeria gears up for another election cycle, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has called on journalists to shift focus from soundbites to substance, demanding that media professionals actively scrutinize political manifestos and expose hollow campaign promises before they take root.
Therefore, NOA has charged media practitioners to play a more critical role in Nigeria’s democratic process by interrogating the manifestos of political candidates rather than giving airtime to unverified pledges.
Speaking at the 9th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos, NOA Director General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, emphasized that most campaign manifestos lack authenticity and accountability, often originating from party platforms rather than the individual candidates themselves.
During a panel discussion themed “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects”, Issa-Onilu said, “Many of these manifestos are not even written by the aspirants. They simply align with their party’s blueprint without truly owning or understanding it.”
He stressed the importance of media responsibility in challenging unrealistic promises and redirecting public discourse toward achievable, well-documented governance plans.
According to him, the agency’s role includes communicating government projects and helping bridge the information gap between leadership and citizens. Issa-Onilu also acknowledged past criticisms of the NOA but noted a renewed commitment to national unity and public accountability, buoyed by presidential support.
“I used to believe the agency should be scrapped, until I joined and witnessed the dedication of the staff,” he admitted.
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Also speaking at the event, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and ex-Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, decried the growing disconnect between campaign rhetoric and governance realities.
He outlined four key steps to bridging this divide, which includes responsible campaigning, strong institutions, honest communication, and active civic engagement.
Masari warned that many campaign promises remain aspirational due to limited resources, weak institutions, and unforeseen crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic or persistent insecurity. He called for transparency and accountability, noting that broken promises erode public trust and endanger democratic stability.
“When leaders make empty pledges, citizens lose faith. But when even small gains are communicated honestly and achieved consistently, democracy gains ground,” Masari said.
He applauded GOCOP for providing a platform where media, civil society, and political stakeholders can engage in frank conversations about governance and democracy.
“This is journalism at its best, serving as the critical link between leaders and the people,” he added.
As political campaigns intensify, the call from NOA and GOCOP leaders states that it’s time for the media to elevate the political conversation by holding politicians accountable, not just after elections, but before they make promises they may never intend to keep.
