Kogi State Ministry of Information and Communication says funding is one of the major challenges it faces as a Ministry.
Commissioner of Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo who was represented by the permanent secretary Teddy Adegbola stated this at the floor of the House while reviewing the performance of 2023 budget and defending the proposed 2024 budget.
Budget defense is a yearly ritual which Ministries, Departments and Agencies must carry out before lawmakers whether at State or Federal level to ascertain the performance level of the outgoing fiscal year and plans for the new fiscal year.
It is based on this premise that the Commissioner and his team appeared before the House Committee on Information and Communication to review the performance of 2023 budget, defend the 2024 budget proposal as well as make their challenges known.
Fanwo said the Ministry of Information and Communication is faced with myriads of challenges aside funding and these challenges cut across the two Parastatals under the Ministry which are Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation and Graphics Newspaper.
The Commissioner explained that Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation Lokoja runs on diesel daily since it’s not connected to thirty three KVA power line and this limits it’s transmission time to six hours daily.
Other challenges confronting Radio according to the Commissioner are under staffing which cut across almost all departments.
Chairman House Committee on Information, Bode Ogunmola admonished the Commissioner and Heads of the two Parastatals under the Ministry to double their efforts at making sure they maximize the little resources they generate while also make effort to boost revenue.
Director General, Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, Alhaji Ojo Oyila-Ozovehe while reacting to a question put by member representing Dekina Biraidu State Constituency, Ochidi Shehu whether Radio Kogi Ochaja is back on air, the Director General said the Radio is fully back on air but faced with security challenge.
Alhaji Oyila commended Governor Yahaya Bello for his commitment towards making sure that information dissemination reaches the grassroot, noting that efforts are on to make sure the station is made secured.
The Speaker, Umar Yusuf who was represented by his deputy, Enema Paul advised the Director General to liase with the Local Government Chairman or whoever serves as the head of the local government following the expiration of the tenure of the twenty one local government area Chairmen.
He added that Kogi State Vigilance Service should be made to oversee the security of the station, saying that is the only radio people of Kogi East rely on for information about government and it’s policies.