The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ-FCTA ) chapel has urged the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesome Wike to set the machinery in motion for upgrade of the Information & Communication Department of the FCTA to Secretariat.
The journalists posited that the initiative would ensure proper coordination of the information activities in the service of the administration.
The union leaders made this appeal during a visit to the newly appointed General Counsel and Secretary of Legal services of FCT administration, Barr Salman Dako.
Lec by Ngozi Ufomba the union noted that it is only in FCT among all the federating units that its information business is being operated under a department while others are being carried out under a ministry.
“The union will like to draw the attention of FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike to this abnormalcy where the activities of information and communication services of the whole Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA is being run under a department which has made the seamless and proper coordinations of information services difficult if not impossible”
The call was necessary at this time, given the political will that has been displayed by the Minister to ensure that things are properly done in the administration of FCT and the executive members have no doubt in his ability to correct this one too.
The union reiterated that it may interest the minister to know that the department boast of over 300 professional staff who need to grow to the height of their careers; adding that FCT is the only state out of the 36 states in the federation that its information arm operates through a department
Responding, Barrister Salman Dako, promised his unwavering support for the upgrading of the department to secretariat
“I pledge to support your submission on the need to upgrade the Department to a Secretariat to enable the department maximize its potentials.”
He promised to use his good office and legal prowess to support the members of the Chapel as the need arises.
The Secretary noted that the noble job of promoting the policies and activities of the FCT Administration which is done by information officers/Public Relation Officers and Journalists in the system is commendable and should not be ignored.
Dako also emphasized the need to equip all information managers across the Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) in the FCT with the requisite funding to carry out their jobs effectively and efficiently.
He, however, charged members of the NUJ-FCTA chapel to be dedicated to their jobs by developing themselves to discharge their duties to meet up with global standards.
The visit was aimed at strengthening the understanding and cooperation between all the Mandate Secretariat of FCTA and the NUJ FCTA Chapel for a mutually beneficial relationship in order to assist all PROs and Information Officers of FCTA in service delivery.
Other members of team included, the NUJ- FCTA Vice Chairman: Abu-Sadiq Hassan, General Secretary: Niyi M. Lawal, Tresurer: Innocent Mbanugo, and Financial Secretary: Jimoh Akeem Olalekan