Reps. laud NAN over prudent management of resources

By Francis Onyeukwu

The House of Representatives has commended the management of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for embracing the use of renewable energy in its operations.

The members of House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Privileges gave the commendation during their oversight visit to NAN headquarters Abuja on Thursday.

Chairman of the committee, Rep. Olusola  Fatoba, who led the members of the committee, said he was impressed with the ingenuity of the management of the agency led by Malam Muhammed Ali to install solar system for the daily operations of the agency.

“We are happy that your management could come up with this measure to install solar system here and this will help save a lot of cost in the running of the agency.

“In some government agencies, humongous amounts are quoted as expenses on diesel alone and I think they can borrow a leaf from the present management of NAN to save cost for government,’’ he said.

Fatoba said that his committee observed from the document presented by the management that the agency did not receive enough budgetary provision given the enormous duties it performed.

“NAN is the `official voice of Nigeria’ and performs enormous duties to ensure that the image of the nation is well managed.

“In spite of this enormous duties, what the agency receive as budget is very small when compared with other government organisations that do less, yet they get huge budgets that they even force themselves to spend,’’ he said.

The visiting lawmakers advised the agency on the need to ensure that they liaised with the committee to ensure that challenges facing the agency were looked into, as well as adhere strictly to the budgetary provisions.

Other members of the committee were; Reps. Felix Nwueke (Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency-Rivers), Taofeek Ajilesoro (Ife Federal Constituency-Osun), Rabiu Kambe (Arewa /Dandi Federal Constituency–Kebbi) and Zakaria Nyampa (Madagali/Michika Federal Constituency of Adamawa.

Earlier the managing Director of NAN, Malam Muhammed said his six months administration had done a lot to reposition the agency.

He said that some issues of major concerns were that of the advancement in digital technology with the attendant competitions from other media players.

Muhammed said that the agency was currently initiating some innovations to ensure it remained among key players in the industry.

He thanked the committee members for the visit and assured it that the management was open for collaboration with the lawmakers to position NAN as the lead news agency in not only Africa, but globally. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu