By: Matthew Ajai-Kume
The Benue State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Information, Culture and Tourism has expressed its readiness to ensure that the Alia administration repositions Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation, Publishers of The Voice Newspaper for effective performance.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Elias Audu made this known Wednesday when he led other members of the Committee on a familiarization visit to the Corporation.
“This Corporation is very important to any government in power, there are many private newspapers but most of them spread fake news, if The Voice Newspaper is more functional and effective, it would tackle the fake news and make the public to know exactly what government is doing”, Hon. Audu stated.
He further stated that, if the Corporation is made functional, it will generate revenue for government.
The Chairman urged the Acting General Manager of the Corporation, Mr. Samuel Atachin to forward challenges of the Corporation to the Committee for necessary action.
In his remarks, Hon. Anthony Agom, representing Okpokwu State Constituency, said, “It is very disheartening that all the good things that our forefathers like Aper Aku and others handed over to us are not functioning well”.
He assured that the Assembly will do everything possible to revive to corporation, adding that the Committee is ready to synergize with the Corporation to make it more functional.
Responding, the Acting General Acting Manager of the Corporation, Mr Atachin appealed to the Committee to carry their oversight function to ensure that the Corporation is repositioned to be more functional and ensure that renovation of the office complex is completed with the new printing machine installed.
“When the new machines are installed, it will enable the Corporation to commence commercial printing activities to attract more revenue to the government”, Mr. Atachin maintained.
Mr. Atachin appealed to the Committee to ensure the monthly overhead allocation to the Corporation is reviewed upward to enable the Corporation start daily production of the newspaper.
“I remember the Seventh Benue State House of Assembly carried out a resolution for the Corporation to have a Directorate System but when they left, the issue was thrown out, I appeal to you to check you archives in order to revisit the issue to solve the issue of Staff stagnation in the Corporation”, Mr. Atachin appealed.
