****Calls for enhanced funding, wider sales outreach across LGAs
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
KOGI House of Assembly, has offered lifeline to the state-owned Graphic Newspapers with a review the State Newspaper Corporation Law, 2015, (the legal framework for its operations) to avert sliding into a state of moribund.
The House resolution followed the adoption of a motion Calling on the House for review and enforcement of the law, moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Bode Ogunmola (PDP-Ogori/Magongo).
Ogunmola in soliciting the support of his colleagues for the motion said the review and enforcement of the law would enhance dissemination of information through the newspaper to the grassroots level.
He said that The Graphic Newspaper, was striving to achieve one of its primary mandates of sensitising residents of Kogi State and Nigerians in general, about the State Government’s policies, programmes and activities.
He noted that section 18 (2) (b) of the said law mandates that copies of the state-owned newspaper, The Graphic, shall made available to Local Government councils with payment made from source.
Hon. Ogunmola, pointed out that this provision was duly adhered to until 2017, when the Local Government Councils abruptly ceased compliance.
“Thereby creating adverse effects on the operations, sales and service of the State Newspaper Corporation as the corporation has struggled over the years to sustain its publications.
According to him, before the violation of these provisions, 100 copies of the The Graphic were supplied to each of the 21 Local Government Councils, which ensured the widespread dissemination of government policies, programmes and activities.
Hon. Ogunmola said the current economic realities prompted his proposal for the resumption of the hitherto arrangement with 50 copies per Local Government Council to ensure the continued viability of the Corporation.
He added that, the service of the corporation in broadcasting news and promoting government policies in print format served to inform citizens in every nook and cranny of the state while providing a documented record of government activities.
Against the Supreme Court’s judgement abolishing joint accounts which previously served as the source for the deduction, Ogunmola urged that the agreement be sustained through the state chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, (ALGON).
He then prayed the House to, among others, direct the enforcement of section 18(2) (b) of the Kogi State Newspaper Corporation Law, 2015 to ensure that Local Government Councils resume procurement of The Graphic Newspapers.
Similarly, that the House mandates the joint forum of ALGON to facilitate the deductions and remittance of payments to the State Newspaper Corporation in compliance with existing legal provisions .
He also urged among other prayers, that the State Government should provide interim financial assistance to the corporation to support its operations until the resumption of the sales arrangement, given the critical role of The Graphic Newspaper.
In his ruling, the Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, acknowledged the importance of sustaining the relationship between the government and the people through adequate information dimension especially to those in the various constituencies.
He then directed the Assembly Clerk to forward the resolution to the Local Government Councils and other appropriate authorities. (Ends)
