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…As GM Urges Domestication
The General Manager, of Plateau-owned Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC), Mr. Bulus Dabit has suggested the domestication of the Freedom of Information (FoI) law in states to broaden awareness and maximise its benefits nationwide.
“Not much is known about the law outside Abuja and Lagos; steps must be taken to popularise it and make it effective outside such media hubs so that the nation can gain from its provisions,’’ Dabit said in Jos on Sunday.
He said that it was only when the public was fully aware of the provisions of the law and their rights therein, that they could insist on its application.
“Again, when we operate the law locally, we shall be able to remove all encumbrances when we seek information outside those major cities where the law is already taking full effect.
“From experience, the law appears only applicable if we are approaching federal officers. This should not be the case.’’
He likened the FoI law to the Child Rights Act, stressing that the latter was gradually getting wider national acceptance because most state governments had domesticated its provisions.
Dabit, however, said that the FoI law would only serve national interest if journalists respected the ethics of the profession.
“Every profession has its bad eggs, but the media must be very conscious of its image by respecting basic ethics so that they are taken seriously.
“Conscious efforts must be made to rid the profession of the bad elements to enable journalists to carry out their role of educating and informing the public to bring enlightened opinion to bear on national issues.’’
Dabit also reacted to the recent boycott of Plateau State government’s activities by the state’s Correspondent Chapel on the allegation that Gov. Jonah Jang was not media-friendly.
“The governor is media-friendly. Like every other leader, he knows that he needs the media to reach out to the general public and boost participation in government activities.
“I think the problem is that journalists insist that the governor must handle everything himself. There are several officers expected to handle publicity – the Director of Press Affairs, the Commissioner of Information and the Special Adviser on Media Affairs.
“It is not every day that the governor will be available to address every information need of the newsmen.’’
He also rejected suggestions that the state government depended totally on the state-owned PRTVC and the Nigeria Standard newspapers as its only news outlets.
“I agree that the average Plateau person is obsessed with PRTVC, but it is not possible for us to depend solely on the state-owned media outfits for our entire publicity requirement because we must reach out to the entire nation and even beyond.
“If we depend solely on our local media outfits, we shall be clapping with one hand and that is why the state government is investing so much on NTA and others.’’
He said that it was to also involve other media houses in publicity of the state government’s activities that the governor directed all commissioners to address journalists on their activities.
“We expect the ministerial briefings to create a solid avenue for interaction between journalists and government officials. These commissioners are spokespersons for the governor and should be seen and treated as such by the press.’’
Dabit urged journalists to build bridges toward a united and prosperous Nigeria, and advised them against allowing themselves to be used as pawns by groups or individuals pursuing self-serving interests.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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