Nasarawa Assembly to fast track digitalization of govt owned media, address other challenges.

By David Okpashi

Nasarawa State House of Assembly has promised to assist the management of Nasarawa Broadcasting Service (NBS) the State government governnment owned TV and Radio stations to actualize full digitalization of the station to meet the modern broadcasting.

The Chairman, House standing committee on Information, Jonah Ali Dizaho made the assembly’s position when the management of the station and Ministry of Informstion, Culture and Tourism appeared on their 2023 budget performance today in Lafia.

Hon Dizaho said that the House would support the station in order to enable its disseminate effectively information on government policies and programs across the state.

” This is a normal ritual by us as the constitution has empowered us to oversight your activities

” We appropriated funds and we and the people of the state want to know how you expended such funds from January to date.

” You should tell us your 2023 budget performance and your challenges, if there is,” he said.

The committee’s Chairman, Jonah Ali said a report will be complied to contextualize the needs of NBS to enable the station take it rightful position in the digital broadcasting.

The committee said that it was not pleased that the capital project of NBS is being handled by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism but when the management of the ministry appeared on their 2022 budget performance, the permanent secretary of the Ministry, Bar Yusuf Musa said it is statutory for the ministry to handle the capital project of the media station.

This became a subject of debate but the chairman of the committee, Hon. Jonah Ali Dizaho was quick to intervene, stating that a day will be designated to examined all relevant laws regarding the matter at stake.

The General Manager of NBS, Mr Aloko Flashman while explaining their 2023 Budget appreciated the committee for giving adequate attention to the station and called for its sustenance.

He informed the committee that the station lack modern apparatus to swim in the digital broadcasting even though the state government is working towards addressing it.

Similarly, after listening to the commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Othman Angbolo, the committee commended the ministry in its 2023 expenditure but challenged them to take charge of the tourism and hotels outfits across the state.