The Plateau State House of Assembly (PLHA) Committee on Information has charged all the state government owned media outfits and other relevant establishments to deploy creative measures towards publicising government policies and programmes despite their inherent challenges.
The Chairman, House Committee on Information and member representing Rukuba/Irigwe constituency, Hon. Ibrahim Agbalak gave the charge when he led other members on an oversight function to four organisations under its purview.
The chairman, speaking on the purpose of the visits, said it has become imperative due to its constitutional mandate on oversight and to also familiarise themselves with the organisations, being new members.
The establishments visited include Plateau Publishing Corporation (PPC), publisher of the Nigeria and Sunday Standard newspapers, Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC), Plateau Printing Press (PPP) and the Plateau State Library Board.
At the Plateau Publishing Corporation, publishers of the Nigeria Standard and Sunday Standard newspapers, the acting General Manager, Mr Paul Jatau in company of other management staff were on ground to welcome the committee.
The acting general manager in his remarks highlighted some of the challenges bedevilling the organisation to include lack of funds and non releases of approved budgetary allocations which have been sniffling productions.
Others include the neglect and abandonment of the Joseph Gomwalk building (Standard building) which was partly gutted by fire sometimes back and is in dire need of repair.
Speaking at all places visited, Hon. Ibrahim Agbalak, who is also the House Majority Leader, assured that the tenth assembly was willing to approach governance with a degree of innovation to deliver results across all government MDAs.
While advising that the barrage of challenges presented and problems mitigating against results delivery by the different outfits visited should be documented. He promised that they will be captured in the 2024 budget so that the House will push for releases in that regard.
Also, the General Manager PRTVC, Rita Kachollom Pam in a remark noted that the corporation under her leadership has resolved to prioritise peace reportage, irrespective of any perceived sentiments.
Kachollom Pam further disclosed that because of the reach of the station, both on terrestrial and social media platforms, it has no choice but to report verified and credible information to the public.
For the Government owned Plateau Printing Press, Mr. Bulus Goshit, the Acting General Manager, said the organisation had lived with a myriad of challenges. Adding that key to their concerns is the government putting to use the state of the art machines procured by the Jang administration, now abandoned to waste.
The Plateau State Library Board under the watch of Acting Chief Librarian, Simon Mwanti listed non releases in terms of budgetary provisions and overhead, dilapidated facility and structure as well as obsolete literary materials as some of the challenges the board had endured over time.
Other members of the committee Hon. Cornelius Doeyok, representing Qua’an Pan South constituency and Hon. Gabriel Dewan Kudengbena, representing Pankshin North constituency emphasised the place of information in government business and tasked the establishments to redouble efforts, so as to improve content and quality.
Hon. Dewan due to the environmental noise from the motor park close by, advised the state library to think of relocating to a more befitting site, while also looking at ways of imbibing the modern concept of an e – library.
