The suspended Cybersecurity Levy serves as a stark reminder of the high price governments pay for neglecting proper communication strategies, Creative Intelligence (CI) Group CEO Femi Odewunmi has said.
Presenting insights on lessons from the botched exercise due to public outrage, he said public trust, once eroded, was hard-won.
“This incident also exposes the haphazard nature of crisis communication in the public sector. Moving forward, prioritising clear, transparent, and timely communication from the outset is crucial to gaining public support and avoiding similar missteps in the future,” he said.
He advised all government and public sector institutions to note that effective communication was neither optional nor just an expense, but an investment in ensuring successful policy implementation.
Odewunmi, however, said the rollout of the Cybersecurity Levy was intended to bolster national defences against cyber threats.
He said the wave of negative sentiment and self-inflicted wound faced by the Central Bank (CBN) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), along with the presidency, was avoidable through well-crafted communication.
“Media reports point to several key missteps that fueled public discontent. First, the levy’s introduction lacked transparency. The public was left largely in the dark regarding the levy’s specific allocation and the justification for a 0.5 per cent levy on all electronic transactions. This opacity fostered suspicion and distrust.
“Additionally, the timing of the levy’s implementation, amidst economic hardship, was insensitive and poorly received. Citizens struggling with inflation viewed the levy as an additional burden,” he said.
Speaking on the missed opportunity, he said a proactive and transparent communication strategy could have mitigated the damage.
“Imagine a scenario where the government, well before implementation, educated the public through a campaign highlighting the escalating cyber threats facing Nigeria’s financial sector and critical infrastructure. Explaining the potential costs of cyberattacks in relatable terms would have fostered a sense of urgency and a willingness to contribute,” he said.
Odewunmi said the government should have also clearly outlined how the levy would be used, emphasising its role in bolstering cybersecurity infrastructure and national security, as well as openly discussing alternative funding mechanisms, demonstrating a willingness to consider public concerns and find a balanced solution.
Odewunmi said a better response after the policy’s suspension was for the government to institute a swift and sincere public statement acknowledging the public’s concerns and outlining steps to address them, which would have demonstrated empathy and a commitment to listening; host town hall meetings; and engage in open discussions with stakeholders, including financial institutions, businesses, and civil society organisations.
“This would have allowed for a more collaborative approach, fostered a sense of shared responsibility, and provided regular updates on the situation and any revisions to the levy plan. as well as open communication fosters trust and prevents the spread of misinformation,” he said.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then