The federal government has penned down N180 million for social media influencers to help boost the government's battered image in 2017.

FG to spend N180 million on social media influencers in 2017

The Muhammadu Buhari administration which came into power last year riding on a well planned public relations campaign with the slogan 'CHANGE' has seen its public ratings crashing like a pack of cards in the last few months.

Aware of its depleting image in the eyes of the public, the government through the ministry of information and culture budgeted N180 million to pay social media influencers in 2017.

This was contained in the 2017 Appropriation Bill presented to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Buhari last week.

Social media influencers are people who wield influence through social media. They are regular people offline but are celebrities online with powerfully engaged social media followings.


The Buhari campaign team engaged them before the 2015 general elections and have stuck with them ever since.

One of such influencers, Tolu Ogunlesi was also appointed by the Buhari government to coordinate its social medai team.

Meanwhile, some Nigerians on micro-blogging site, Twitter, have expressed disappointment on the action of the government.

NAIJ.com observed some of the comments. Read below:

The jokes....

Wat? I thought govt's for the people?
How's this suppose to help the average Nigerians?

This is a total waste of money!

No wonder Sarrki and have suddenly become re energised recently ..anybody collecting money to support this wicked and demonic govt is a ritualist and the Karma that follows ritualists will surely follow them

Let them spend billions.They would realise that its a waste after 2019 election.

Next year will be the most lucrative time to be a zombie......Abeg hope say form still dey available!?
I got a master degree in ass licking.

Lol.zombies right now

And our soldiers are dieing of hunger nd starvation in the NE.

Shame on me for inking my thumb for dis pathetic govt

APC is scam

Waiting

How does propaganda cure hunger?
I hear Aisha rice is akin to eating efo.

Influencers !

those influencers will be shamed. we are waiting.