By Moses Gbande
Plateau State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Hon. Dan Manjang says concerted efforts are being put in place by the Rescue Administration to effectively transform the Information sector in the state.
Hon. Manjang stated this when members of the Plateau state House of Assembly, committee on Information visited ministry of information at the JD Gomwalk Secretariat, Jos, for an oversight function.
He described the office of the Information Commissioner as a very active place to be due its tasking nature. The Commissioner further reveals that he has enjoyed the cooperation of staff, management and members of his constituencies the media, noting that the Media has supported the rescue administration at almost no cost, which has made possible because of the cordial relationship the Lalong government was able to laid from the beginning.
He noted that government is doing everything possible to ensure that the Plateau printing press, the Plateau publishing corporation and the state Library are all put in full capacity.
Hon. Manjang added that the Ministry has gotten approval of funds from the Governor to put the Plateau Printing Press functional, stressing that having bought an operational equipment of over two hundred and fifty million naira it will not be advisable to allow it to lie fallow.
While the Plateau publishing corporation Must be commended for honouring the memorandum of understanding they had with PIPC which has made it possible for them to be making productions at the moment, he emphasizes on the need for all government MDA’s to pay for the adverts they placed on the Nigeria Standard and even PRTV because according to him they all have operational cost which occurs on a daily basis.
He revealed that the Nigeria Standard is going to be 50 years by next year, for that purpose there are plans on ground to relaunch the Nigeria standard to the world.
Manjang confirmed that government is currently in dialogue with the SDG and they have agreed to build and donate an E- Library for the state in a better location because where the library is presently situated is no longer Serene.
He appreciated the Hon. Members for coming stressing that the Ministry has enjoyed tremendous working relationship with the house.
Earlier, Chairman House Committee on Information Hon. Philip Dasun stated that it is the constitutional function for members to carry out oversight activities on the Ministry it oversights together with the sub units under the Ministry, so as to be able to check how far they have been doing, what are the challenges confronting them and how best the house can work together with the Ministry towards improvement.
Hon. Dasun maintain that as a ministry that publicized government policies and programmes it is very important that the door of the Ministry remains open.
He commended the commissioner for issuing out very important reports about what has been happening in the state both with government and other private institutions as well as matters that affect the people of Plateau. While pointing out that the pro- activeness of the Commissioner is worth commending, Dasun however implores the Ministry to think through improving the various aspects of the Ministry that will create daily activities of informing people of what happens around them, noting that “this is the time that we need greater and more wider publicity than before”.
Nasarawa Reporters 