*Doles Info Officers New Phones To Boost Output
By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
Cross River State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Eric Iso Anderson has tasked the State-owned Information machinery to be more effectual in reporting on the deliverables and giant strides of the governor Ben Ayade-led administration.
He gave the charge, during his maiden meeting with Information Officers of the Ministry in Calabar.
Anderson, who extolled the present administration’s lofty heights, especially in the area of agro-industrialization, however complained about the underreported information on the policies, programmes and projects of the Ayade-led government, calling on Information Officers, as foot soldiers in effective information management, to rise up to the challenge.
In his words: “we must get the people to know what the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have done under this administration.
“We are making efforts to resume publication of our Daily News Bulletin both in hard copy and electronically on all our online media platforms. We are also on course to improve the State-owned print and electronic media (Nigerian Chronicle Newspapers and CRBC Radio & TV) for optimum information dissemination.”
He averred that his interface with the Information Officers was necessary as it presented the opportunity to assess their concerns and possible ways to bolster their performances. He also assured staff of improved working conditions under his leadership as Commissioner.
In matching action with words, Commissisioner Anderson gifted five Information Officers with brand new internet-enabled cell phones to enhance output and boost their morale in the discharge of their duties.
Speaking on behalf of the State Director of Information, Mr. Victor Udu thanked Mr.Anderson, for beginning his reins as Information and Orientation Commissioner on an impressive footing, while calling on his information colleagues to gird their loins and get to work with the new leadership.
In his remarks, a senior Information Officer and Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mr. Benedict Okache described the redeployment of Anderson to the Ministry as “a round peck in a round hole, a thorough-bred information manager” with the NIPR Chartered membership under his kitty.
He vouched to his colleagues that under Mr. Anderson, they are in for a smooth ride in carrying out their statutory duties.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Information Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Cross River State Council, Comrade Iloke Egbe commended the Commissioner for his seamless efforts barely few days on the saddle.
He however, pleaded with the Commissioner to appeal to his colleagues in various MDAs to always avail Information Officers with relevant information, as well as including them in the MDAs’ scheme of things.
