By Anastasia Agunwa/Chizoba Okeke/ Gloria Abugu :
The member representing Ogbaru 11 constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr. Somtochukwu Udeze has urged the State Government to appropriate more funds for information dissemination across the state.
Mr. Udeze gave the advise when the State Ministry of Information and its agencies led by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Paul Nwosu appeared before the House Committee on Information and Culture to defend the 2023 budget estimates at the State legislature.
According to Udeze, all I am asking is, let government have more money for information dissemination and release much money for them to function.
He noted that the Information Commissioner has been working very hard to improve the information dissemination in the state.
“I am not sure if N181 million being budgeted for revamping of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), will be accessed at the end of the day.
“There is need to revamp ABS for optimal performance, most of the money ABS make is in Onitsha. I leave in Onitsha and I know that it will improve the amount of money received from advertisements and others.
” I know how buoyant the Awada ABS station is, so if more money is appropriated for the Ministry of Information, it will improve drastically.
“To me, the only way government can advertise its policies and programmes is to inject money in its media outfit for optimal performance.
“ABS supposed to generate money to pay their salaries of its workers. So if there is anything government has to do, is to inject money to enable them to kick start that fund generation than waiting for the government to give them money.
“There should be investment in Information ministry and the money budgeted for ICT and some others are not encouraging”, Udeze observed.
Also speaking, Mr. Emeka Aforka representing Orumba North Constituency charged the Information Commissioner to present this matter to the State Executive Council(EXCO), as according to him, “that is where things of this nature are being presented and discussed in order for government to release enough funds”.
“This is a very serious concerns for all of us; the people of Anambra State. We all know what is happening here, the appropriated amount especially for ICT is poor.
Aforka advised the Commissioner to make strong case for the ministry of Information, saying “because it is the image maker of the state for government and if more funds are released for Information ministry and it agencies, it will make for the good of Ndi Anambra.
” If your ministry and the agencies under it are doing well, that means, Anambra will be well publicized and doing well for the wellbeing of Ndi Anambra.
“This Commissioner is very active, I see hope in him because he is very experienced in information gathering and dissemination.
“Even the Managing Director of ABS and the rest of the information managers, and with the combination of this team, I think if we allow them within this period, they will do something wonderful to ensure they made their budget, if not 80 percent.
In his part, the Acting Chairman House Committee on Information and Culture, Mr. Uzoma Eli representing Onitsha South 1 constituency explained that the bilateral meeting was a statutory requirement for the passage of 2023 Appropriation bill.
Eli added that it would enable the Anambra State House of Assembly to scrutinize the budget estimate of ministries and confirm whether what MDAS appropriated are actually the funds they required based on their previous performances.
Eli pointed out that the budget defense would help the House to allocate resources wisely, since a well-planned budget is of utmost importance to any government to ensure economic stability and growth.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Paul Nwosu while defending the 2023 budget estimate of the State Ministry of Information and its agencies disclosed that the money appropriated for the Ministry will be used for Equipment for Video and Film production; rural public enlightenment; Equipment for Graphics and Photographic unit; Revamping of Anambra State FM Studio of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) which was burnt early this year, others.
Nwosu noted that nothing was budgeted for Sustenance and Equipment of Anambra Government Press.
Nwosu recalled that early this year, shortly after this administration commenced, unknown gunmen visited ABS Onitsha studio and burnt it and damaged the vehicles there.
“Apart from that, ABS equipments are dilapidated, if something could be done, it will be beneficial to the people. ABS needs attention. N181 million for Revamping of ABS.
He disclosed that a special presentation for revamping of ABS was made months ago, because almost all the equipments are obsolete, dilapidated and moribund, coupled with the fact that unknown gunmen attacked the station.
According to Nwosu, Onitsha station is our strength because it is in the hub of commercial activities in Onitsha. And it saddles in Onitsha, but if we get something working here, we can cover Nnewi and parts of Awka.
” So, we made a presentation to EXCO, telling them that it is very important that theses stations should be up and running so that we would be able to communicate government activities to our people and at the same time, do both businesses.
“This is because, ABS is a brand name, when you talk about any radio station in Anambra state, peoples mind first of all, go to ABS before counting others.
“So Mr. Chairman, in a nutshell, I appeal to your committee to do Justice to our proposed budget”, he explained.
Information Commissioner listed some of the proposed budgets to include N70 million budgeted for Information Management activities and production materials, N200 million for Media services and Attitudinal Change which are the important areas of our work.
Others are N5 million for production of calendars and diaries, and N3 million for PRS, N69 million for Procurement of Office Equipment, Zero for ANSA, N15 million for Capacity Building for Information Officers, N8 million for National and other activities, and N4 million for Procurement of Generator set, amongst others.
He therefore thanked the Chairman and members of House Committee on Information and Culture for their wonderful and timely intervention.
