The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku has appealed to the National Assembly to prioritise the completion of the Federal Government Printing Press in the 2014 budget. He made the demand in Abuja during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Information to the Federal Ministry of Information Headquarters recently.
According to the Minister, the project has received inadequate funding since conception despite being one of the key projects of the ministry. "I want to make this appeal before you commence hearing for the 2014 budget proposals that we have a priority project which is the completion of the Federal Government Printing Press. I want to state here that the ministry is desirous of completing this project which is the basis of my appeal for you to give that project adequate funding in the 2014 appropriation,'' he said.
The Information Minister added that the completion of the printing press would ease a lot of difficulties encountered by government in the printing of documents and other materials. On the issues raised about some operations of public owned media organisations, Maku explained that market trend is making media operations in Nigeria and the world in general difficult. He also indicated that public organs of information dissemination are operating within the scope of their operational philosophies and are doing well, despite challenges in the industry.
"The idea of establishing these public organs was not for profit, their driving philosophy was not business oriented. So I can say that they are doing their best because it is not easy. When you compare the operations of the public and private media organizations in the country, you will see that we are doing well with the government media despite the challenges,'' he noted.
Maku however pointed out that with improved funding and greater commitment by its staff, public organs of information in Nigeria would perform better and meet the expectations of Nigerians. He informed the committee of the ministry's desire to institutionalise the on-going tour of projects across the country - the National Good Governance Tour.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Umar Jibril commended the ministry for its re-invigorated strategy on communicating with Nigerians on the activities of government at diverse levels. He also advised the ministry to transfer its proposals in the budget for the National Good Governance Tour from the capital to the recurrent budget.
Umar Jibril indicated that the new arrangement if considered, would enable the ministry achieve its aim of formalizing the initiative as a key strategy for promoting good governance through information dissemination. He urged the ministry to re-inforce public information organs in the country to make them generate adequate resources to cater for some of their obligations.
During the oversight visit to the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Headquarters, the Director-General, Abubakar Jijiwa appealed to the committee to address the drop in the funds appropriated to the organization. He said that the dwindling budgetary allocation is adversely affecting the organisation's expansion project.
"It is impossible for the organization to actualize its goal of effective coverage of the country, when funds appropriated to it continually drops. VON plans to establish its television arm as part of its expansion project," the DG averred.
In his response, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee pledged the legislative body's support for the organisation's dream of expansion. He further disclosed that in-spite of government's dwindling resources and ever increasing demands; the organisation's activities would be focused on improving government's information organs.