The 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer on Nigeria has revealed that Nigerians fear losing their jobs more than they fear COVID-19.
It said out of the four institutions – government, business, media and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Nigerians trust civil society organisations the most, with businesses coming second.
The report said that most Nigerians expressed distrust for the media, and returned the lowest trust quotient in the world for the government with 24 per cent.
Chief Executive Officer, Edelman Africa, Jordan Rittenberry, while presenting the 2021 Nigeria findings with the theme, “Pandemic’s Ongoing Impact on Trust,”noted that Nigerians look up to civil society organisations and businesses to assist the government in uplifting communities and driving positive change.
Meanwhile, a diverse panel critically analysed the implications of the survey report.
They include Senior Special Assistant on Media to President Muhammadu Buhari in the Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande; Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi; veteran journalist, Dr. Reuben Abati and others moderated.
Speaking on the development, Akande suspected that the distrust of government as a result of Nigerians’ natural cynicism and the testy historical relationship between government and citizens.
