Feed the Minds – The Role of Government Publications in Documenting Policy

Implementation

Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu

Department of Mass Communications
Bayero University, Kano
2009, Kano,Nigeria

The availability of media technologies has created incredible opportunities for

governments and individuals to communicate vast amounts of information to the
general public. The traditional paradigm of information generation and
dissemination had tended to rely on the laborious process of getting already over-
stressed officials to disseminate government publications usually through the
Government Printing Press. The dynamics of information technology has created a
more instantaneous facility where government policies can be cumulatively
documented and archived. There are two main purposes of government
publications. These are

a. educate the public and publicize government activities

b. provision of relevant information on the activities and achievements of the
government.

To create an awareness of government publications, one needs to know who the

users of government information are and how they are informed about these
publications. The literature on earlier studies of users differs depending on the
institution. A study done at Arkansas State University found that faculty members
use government publications more than students but borrowed fewer Congressional
publications (Cook 1985). In a study done at the University of Illinois-Urbana
Champaign, researchers employed a questionnaire to determine who used
government publications. The survey revealed that the majority of its users were
undergraduates and that Congressional documents accounted for the greatest use.
Current documents circulated more than older ones and hard copy publications
accounted for 99% of the materials circulated (Nollen 1989).

In their 1989 study, McClure and Hernon estimated that 167,000 patrons per week
used government publications. The number of users per week ranged from 143 to
243 for academic libraries and 68 to 127 in public libraries. Depository users tended
to be highly educated and evenly split by gender. The users were primarily students,
managers, or professionals (1989).

McCaghy and Purcell (1972) at Case Western Reserve University surveyed library
users to determine: (I) the percentage of faculty that used the document collection;
(2) the frequency of use by faculty members; (3) the way users found the materials;
and (4) the satisfaction users felt with the assistance rendered by library staff. The
researchers found the following reasons for infrequent use of government
publications:

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(1) unaware of their existence (14%)
(2) unfamiliar with their organization (24%)
(3) use of government publications in other libraries (24%)
(4) obtain own copies (32%)
(5) do not need government publications (46%)
(6) other (12%)

These studies are very significant for the insight they provide into how government
publications are perceived, at least in the United States. It is therefore instructive
that the Kano State government is making efforts to create greater awareness of the
current efforts being made to faithfully document activities and expenditures.

How can we make government publications more accessible to our users? The
activity taking place today is one way of doing it – by public presentation of what the
Government has done. That the public has a "right to know" is a staple of politicians.
But the historical record belies the assumption that unfettered public access is
universally accepted by and acceptable to government and governed alike

A total of 42 publications have been produced by the Directorate for Research and
Publication, Kano between 2003 to 2007, out of which 32 were published in just the
two years between 2005 and 2008 under the direct supervision of Ibrahim Ado-
Kurawa, one of the most scholastic archivists of contemporary Kano. This impressive
list cuts across all the sectors of the governance and civil information. Significantly, it
provides critical information not only about governance process in Kano, but also for
the first time in the history of the state, strategic information concerning cultural life
of the people of the State. Let me illustrate with just few of them.

The Great Kano Attraction is a compendium of what constitutes the cultural,

economic and social aspects of Kano State – a veritable collection of historical facts
and information that document over 1,000 years of rich cultural heritage. This is
complemented by Investment Opportunities and About Kano 2005 and Kanawa
Trade Centre which are targeted at potential investors in Kano – document that had
their field day in the investment visits undertaken by His Excellency the Governor,
Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau to various countries around the world. Such trips and
publications helped to dispel the bad image given to Kano by international media
due to the implementation of Shari’a – a strategic move made only during these five
years.

While almost all government publications are in the Nigerian official language of
English, with quite a few in the recognized language of the locality, Hausa, it is clear
that a vast number of highly literature citizens in other scripts had always been left
out. In this way, it is an impressive innovation in government publications that the
Sakon Sabuwar Shekara was written in both Hausa and Ajami script. This script was
first introduced anywhere in Nigeria in 15th century in Kano by Sarkin Kano
Muhammad Rumfa, and confers on the Kano Emirate centuries of impressive literary
tradition. This tradition has been largely ignored by both the civil society, and

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especially the government. We have been advocating for its use as a way of reaching
out the thousands of literature Qur’anic education scholars who constitute the vast
majority of our people, but all in vain. The same Ajami script has been used to build
the intellectual civilizations of Persia (Farsi) and Indo-Pakistan (Urdu), and many
parts of old Soviet Union (especially Azerbaijan). It is therefore a welcome move to
see the present Government of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau paying a long-overdue
homage to this humble script.

This is not the first time Ajami script has been used in government publications in
Kano; but it is the first time it is officially recognized as a script of communication.
Like all things about Kano, this is the first time it has been done anywhere in the
contemporary Caliphate. With this innovation, thousands of Alarammomi and their
collegiate students (almajirai) would have a clearer understanding of Government
policies and intentions; because such policies are written, for the first time, in a
script they understand – and own.

Government Publications and Media Technologies

As I noted earlier, the rapidity with which information technology intruded into our
lives has radically altered the delivery of information. With greater concerns being
shown to ecological state of the planet, less emphasis is given to paper publications,
and more to multimedia and online outlets. The availability of the Web has made it
possible to share vast amounts of information with the entire planet. It is thus
another innovation that the Kano State Government has taken the new media
technologies in its stride in two ways.

The first was the local availability of all the publications on DVDs. This makes it easy
to distribute to schools and depository libraries as well as collaborating collections
around the world. The second was the availability of the publications on the official
website of His Excellency, the Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau on
www.ibrahimshekarau.com where they can be freely downloaded as pdf (Adobe
Portable File) document.

With a world increasing its focus to disadvantaged members of the society such as
the blind, one hopes that in future editions of the multimedia packages, there will
AUDIO versions of the summaries of the publications for those who are vision
challenged, as is currently the trend around the world.

The website, www.ibrahimshekarau.com itself is not the first time the Kano State
Government is staking its place on the Web. However, this is the first time a
government website is created to provide raw factual information, rather than party
political information. The functionalist structure of the website itself reflects the
ascetic nature of its namesake – for the “Mallam” in Shekarau is a true reflection of
inner strength and scholastic quality that manifests itself in the simplicity of the
website. With its focus on purely scholastic information, it clearly presents itself as a
depository of information about the Government of Kano to the entire world – more
about instrument of government, and less about the individual.

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A third way in which Kano State Government publications use multimedia effectively
in documenting Kano is the production of two documentary films on DVD – 45th
Anniversary of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, on the throne of Kano, and
Celebration of Cooperation Kano State of Nigeria and Federal Republic of Germany.
These two innovations indicate the likely future directions of documentations in
Kano; for the multimedia technology (DVDs, CDs, VCDs, MP4s and iPods) have
become domesticated as part of necessities of contemporary life, even in traditional
and ancient cities such as Kano.

Such technology can in fact be used to translate some of the publications to make
them more dynamic and interactive. For instance, The Great Kano Attraction easily
lends itself to such treatment, where the various sites, monuments and activities
documented could be brought to life in a documentary and audio book manner that
reach far and wide.

Government Document Round Table (GODORT) Principles on Government

Information
Based on what we are about to witness today – the public presentation of the 42
publications of the Government of Kano – and going through all the publications as I
had the privilege to do so, it is clear that a studied attempt has been made to
conform to international standards governing the production and dissemination of
government information. It is with this that I wish to take us through one of the most
accepted principles on government information, and that is the one adopted by
Government Round Table (GODORT) of the American Library Association (ALA) at its
1990 Annual Conference in Chicago (Documents to the People, v.19:1 (March
1991):12, 14). These principles are 11 and prescribe how government information
should be made available to the people in depository libraries, websites, bookstores
or anywhere else. They are as follows:

1. Access to government information is a public right that must not be restricted

by administrative barriers, geography, ability to pay, or format. An informed
citizenry is a prerequisite to maintaining the social contract between the
established government and those governed by it. The people who constitute
nations, states, or localities require unimpeded access to information to
continually assess and evaluate their governments. Government must accept the
responsibility to provide to its citizens unrestricted access to public information
on government activities. This responsibility includes providing information
regardless of geographic location or mobility of those who require it. Information
must be made available to the public without impediment through deliberate
policies, charging fees which intentionally or unintentionally limit access by those
unable to pay, or by limiting access through the use of format(s) which are not
equally accessible to all citizens.
2. The government has a responsibility to collect and disseminate information to
the public. The free flow of information between the government and the public
which it serves is essential to maintaining an informed citizenry. The public's right
to know about government operations and functions is essential in holding
government accountable to its citizenry. To facilitate accountability, it is the

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 government's responsibility to collect information on its policies, program,
debates, deliberations, and legislative or executive activities, and disseminate
this information to the public.
3. Government information, including information in electronic form, should be
disseminated in a manner that promotes its usefulness to the public. Because
many different social and commercial decisions depend on information
generated by governments, it is vital that governments issue information in
formats that promote access to and enhancement of the usefulness of
government information. Public access to government information mist not be
thwarted by costs nor by special knowledge required to use the media in which
government information is maintained. In managing information resources,
governments must always consider the dual responsibility of maintaining public
information in formats that are useful both to government agencies and to the
public. Furthermore, information collected by the government must be
consistent in content so as to facilitate geographic and/or chronological
extrapolations, and be in formats which make it easily accessible to the public.
4. Depository library programs must be preserved to provide equitable, no-fee
access to government information for all citizens. Depository library programs
are effective means for providing wide dispersal of and free public access to
government information. As joint ventures between government and libraries,
depository library programs are based on the principle that government
information is a public resource that must be freely available to the people
regardless of their location. The imposition of fees by libraries or by government
to access government information would undermine the basic principle of free
access to this rich public resource. Furthermore, user fees would deny access to
government information by those unable to pay the fees. This would foster the
creation of an information poor and an information elite. The introduction of
such a convention should be abhorrent to governments dedicated to the
principle of equal opportunity.
5. Cost of collecting, collating, storing, and disseminating government information
should be supported by appropriation of public funds. The collection, collation,
storage and dissemination of public information are integral responsibilities of
government. Government must allocate adequate financial resources from
publicly appropriated funds to meet these responsibilities. The government
cannot abrogate this obligation to ensure that government information is freely
and equitably available to the public.
6. The role of private publishers should complement government responsibilities
in the collection, storage, and dissemination of public information. Private
sector involvement does not relieve the government of its information
responsibilities. Access to government information is essential to the
maintenance of a responsible government, the health and well-being of society,
and the continued economic growth and development of the nation. The
obligation to guarantee full public access to valuable government information
resources rests with the government. While the participation of the private
sector in the collection, storage, and dissemination of government information
be significant, this involvement does not relieve the government of its
fundamental information responsibilities. Government must guarantee

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 widespread, free, and equitable access to public information, regardless of
whether the information is produced and disseminated by the government or
through the services of the private sector. In its contracts with the private sector,
government must carefully assess whether factors such as corporate stability,
continuity of service, proprietary control, or fees required to assure profitability
will impede public access to the product.
7. Government information policy must insure the integrity of public information.
This policy should be determined by the chosen representatives of the people.
Just as the government has a responsibility to collect and disseminate
information to the public, the government must also guarantee that information
collected by the government is presented to the public in its entirety, without
editing or missions which may change content or interpretation. This policy is
intended to ensure the collection and dissemination of government information
mist come under the review and approval of the elected representatives of the
citizenry.
8. It is essential to safeguard the right of the government information user to
privacy and confidentiality. It is essential to protect the individual's right to
privacy, therefore confidentiality must be maintained in all transactions wherein
individuals access government information, whether through libraries,
government agencies, or private vendors. Any mechanism that might identify
users must be prohibited, except in instances where proper legal procedures are
employed.
9. Government has an obligation to archive and preserve public information,
regardless of format. Most information generated by government serves as the
official public record of government. Government, as an agent of the people, has
the responsibility to preserve public information, regardless of format, as official
record. To fulfill this responsibility, government must examine preservation
technologies and adopt those which will best preserve government information.
Archived government information, regardless of format, must be readily
accessible to the public, except for information which would violate the right of
privacy or endanger national security.
10. Government has a responsibility to provide comprehensive catalog of all public
information and services. Government information is a public resource collected
at public expense. A comprehensive catalog describing all government
information and information services, regardless of their format, is necessary to
ensure that the public has the knowledge of and access to this resource. The
absence of such a catalog, is, in effect, a barrier to public access to government
information. The catalog must provide sufficient information by which individuals
seeking government information can identify and access it. Furthermore, access
to this comprehensive catalog must be widely available and in formats that
ensure all people have the opportunity to utilize it.
11. Copyright should not be applied to government information. Copyright of
government information would impede public access to that information. The
underlying intent of copyright is to protect the intellectual property rights of
private authors. However, property rights of government information reside with
the people; therefore, copyright should not apply to information produced by
government.

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I argue that these 11 principles – which govern international dissemination of
government information – have been strictly adhered to in the process of creating
public awareness of the activities of the Government of Kano in the last five years. It
is an achievement to be proud of , because as I have earlier indicated, it is the first
effort of its kind anywhere in Nigeria. Kano State is truly feeding the minds.

References
Cook, Kevin., "Gathering Useful Circulation Data in the Documents Department" RQ
25 (1985):223-8.
McCaghy, Dawn and Purcell, Gary R., "Faculty Use of Government Publication,"
College and Research Libraries 33 (1972):7-12.
McClure, Charles and Hernon, Peter., Users of Academic and Public GPO Depository
Libraries, Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1989.
Nollen, Sheila H., "Circulation of Federal Documents: A Guide to Selection," Illinois
Libraries 71 (1 989): 471 -476.

****

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 Appendix:

List of the 42 Publications by the Kano State Government, 2003-2007

1. The March Towards Good Governance: The Journey So Far in Agriculture

x
2. The March Towards Good Governance: The Journey So Far in Land &
Physical Planning x
3. The March Towards Good Governance: The Journey So Far in Water
Resources and Rural Development x
4. The March Towards Good Governance: The Journey So Far in Health Care
x
5. The March Towards Good Governance: The Journey So Far in Works and
Housing x
6. The March Towards Good Governance: The Journey So Far in
Environment x
7. The March Towards Good Governance: Mission and Achievements
(Special First year Anniversary)x
8. Shekarau Speaks
9. Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and the Press
10. Reporting Kano in Peace and Crisis times
11. Qur’anic Ilmi & Islamiyya Schools Program
12. Tamburawa Water Works
13. Harnessing Resources for Social and Economic Development
14. Kwalliya ta Biya
15. Mallam Ya Cika Alkawuransa
16. Investment Opportunities
17. Nagari Na Kowa
18. Tsira Daga Tabewa
19. 3 – Years of Good Governance
20. Achievements of the Shekarau Administration 2005
21. About Kano 2005
22. My Experience in Government
23. Chieftaincy and Security in Nigeria
24. The Great Kano Attraction
25. Constituency Projects
26. Visit to Malaysia
27. Trade Mission to USA
28. Leadership of Shekarau (Ali Mazrui)
29. Nasarorin Dabbaka Shari’ah
30. Zauran Shawara (Adaidaita Sahu)
31. An Account of High Population in Kano
32. Kanawa Trade Centre
33. Women & Children
34. Youth Empowerment
35. Sallah Ginshikin Addini
36. Matashi Na Gari

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37. The 3rd Retreat for Permanent Secretaries
38. Ayyukan Ruwa Na Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau
39. 4 – Years of Good Governance
40. Achievement of Shekarau Administration 2003-2008
41. About Kano 2008 edition
42. Sakon Sabuwar Shekara Hausa/Ajami

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