FG Set To Implement Reforms to Restore NTA, FRCN’s Past Grandeur – Information Minister
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
Federal Government of Nigeria says it will implement transformations that would restore the lost glory of two iconic institutions in the nation’s media landscape, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this in Kaduna when he paid a working visit to the two media establishments.
The Minister who recognised the indispensable role of Radio Nigeria Kaduna, and the NTA, Kaduna in shaping public opinion, disseminating news, and fostering cultural exchange, noted that the institutions lost their fortunes over the years due to decades of neglect, poor attitude to work, dated infrastructure and equipment, which in turn took a toll on their output and performance.
Idris, assured staff that the Tinubu-led Administration will rejuvenate the establishments and position them as trailblazers in the broadcast sector in Nigeria.
According to the Minister, to properly situate the NTA and FRCN as positive agents within the federal government agenda, we must appreciate the fact of their current underwhelming performance in an ever-competitive, creative, and technology-driven operating environment.
He said that his coming accompanied by Directors General of the NTA and FRCN was to genuinely seek a realistic approach to addressing some of the challenges, which is at the forefront of their priorities.
Idris, said, they would explore all available options to ensure that the lost glory of the NTA and FRCN are restored.
The Minister said the case of the FRCN at national and state levels, is even more dire, particularly at the Radio Nigeria, Kaduna, which he described as “a once prestigious bastion of information that has produced innumerable broadcast icons”.
He said upon his assumption of office, he was inundated by calls from numerous interest groups on the dwindling fortunes of the two establishments, stressing that his work is cut out for him to ensure that both the NTA and FRCN are rejigged to achieve their set objectives.
The Minister further assured the management, staff, and other stakeholders of the establishments that President Tinubu has appointed Malam Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos and Dr Mohammed Bulama as Directors General of the NTA and FRCN, respectively, after a thorough consideration of their capacity to turn around the fortunes of the two largest television and radio broadcast chains in Nigeria, and indeed in Africa.
A statement signed Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim, quoted the Minister as saying that he is available to explore opportunities that will provide the necessary wherewithal to ensure that the NTA and FRCN are equipped with modern technology, staff are well trained, and their welfare made a priority.