The Delta State Commissioner for Information, (Middle), Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli, Chairman DOPF (Left), and the Special Assistant to the Commissioner on Media, Mr. Samuel Ijeh (Right) at the Interaction.
By Emmanuel Enebeli
ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, had stated that under his supervision, the Ministry, and its Directorates has performed optimally, as there had been great improvement to what was on ground at the time he took over in September 2015.
The Commissioner who was featured in the 2nd Edition of the Delta Online Publishers Forum, DOPF), FRONTLINE, an interaction/participatory programme, also talk on the controversies surrounding the state owned media houses, and the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa first term in office.
He stated that at assumption of office, and because of the economic crunch of 2015, the first one year was tough, as they could only operate with a budget of about N14 million, and as someone who was coming from the private sector, the public service rules was not familiar to him, but the difficult he encountered during that early time was soon overcomed, as a formal and cordial relationship was established, which is still existing.
On the state of the state broadcasting services, the commissioner stated that the government had started plans to migrate the stations to digital operations, to take it away from what they met it as at 2015. He lamented the state of the stations, but pointed out that plans had been put in place, even for whoever becomes the next information commissioner to implement. He agreed to the fact the level of transmission of the stations, especially the television stations had not been good.
‘‘We met analogue equipment in the radio/television stations in Warri/ Asaba and we have been trying our best to revamp them. We brought in consultants/experts were several tests have been carried out. What we need is digital transmitters which could transmit clear vision and sound to even distant places to compete with other television stations in the world.”
Reacting to the situation of the station, especially as it continued to experience weather problems, he said severally the thunder arrestors had been lost to vandals, which had made the stations to experience weather interferences.
“DRTV Warri has lost three thunder resistors at separate times to thieves and that protection and proper handling of the public property is a major challenge to the government.”
He also noted another challenge which he said the government faces. That the IGR which the stations generated are also spent without remitting or reporting to the government in running parts of the stations.
He lamented of the bad working environment conditions of staff of the ministry in terms staff welfare, when they came in, but said that however been solved gradually been solved, as the training of staff is one of the key to the Okowa’s administration, which they had done with the information officers, and this trainings had exposed them to public relations, advertising and marketing.
The various trainings had exposed many information officers to public relations, advertising and marketing for them to know that they were image makers of the State Government.
In assessing Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the information commissioner said that there was need to critically look at the concrete things the governor had done across the state, citing the feat of constructing solid roads in the riverine areas, an achievement he said, had never been attempted previously, adding that the governor was God sent to salvage the state.
Mr. Ukah who thanked God, and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to serve as commissioner for information, said that the governor had performed beyond expectation of many, as he took over the state when the finance was near zero. He pointed out that to him, that the governor had set a template for whoever will take over from him. He described the governor, as calm, good listener, and a nicer person to work with.
