The Delta House of Assembly Committee on Information has identified the need for adequate funding of the state-owned media organizations to enable them to compete favourably with their counterparts across the globe.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Tim Owhefere who stated this during the 2021 budget defence of the Ministry of Information and its parastatals in Asaba, said the state-owned media establishments were key to effective dissemination of government activities to the grassroots.
Owhefere who represents Isoko North and Majority Leader of the House, said the people at the grassroots should always be abreast with activities of government from the comfort of their homes, stressing that signals of the state-owned electronic media were expected to be easily received irrespective of the locations.
The lawmaker charged the State Ministry of information to strengthen efforts in its drive at revamping the Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri and Asaba as well as the Pointer Newspaper for optimum results in the 2021 fiscal year.
He also challenged the Chief Executives of the media outfits to explore more ways of generating funds to meet their short and long term needs, pointing out that such actions would encourage government to complement their efforts.
In his contributions, a member of the committee and member representing Ughelli South, Hon Reuben Izeze, emphasized the challenges of inadequate funding of the state media outfits and advised that the issue be addressed.
Briefing members of the committee on the projections of the Ministry of Information in the 2021 budget, the Commissioner, Mr Charles Aniagwu said government was committed to ensuring upgrade of equipment in the three state-owned media organizations to meet up with the challenges of the times.
Mr Aniagwu, flanked by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Paul Osahor and other top management in the state information sector, assured of government’s commitment to optimal performance of the ministry and the three media outfits under the supervision of the ministry.
He said the Ministry is already putting measures in place aimed at strengthening service delivery and information dissemination across the State, including the interconnectivity plans of the DBS, Asaba and Warri.
Mr Aniagwu explained that although the outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic slowed down government activities in the State, it was however not same with the ministry as publicity aimed at sensitising the public was never disrupted.
The Information Commissioner appreciated the lawmakers for the robust relationship with the ministry.
The three new General Managers of DBS Warri, Pastor Malcolm Oteri, DBS Asaba, Mr Frankwhite Osaboghien and Pointer Newspaper, Mr Monday Uwagwu were formerly introduced to the Chairman and members of the House Committee on information.
Other members of the Committee, including Honorables Austin Uroye, Guwor Emomotimi, Shedrack Rapu and Ebipade Pullah were present during the budget defence session.
