Perm. Sect. Commends Staff Of Parasatals Under Information Ministry

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Social Re-orientation, Mrs. Margaret Udom has commended staff of Akwa Ibom Newspapers Corporation (AKNC), Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC), the Ethical and Attitudinal Re-orientation Commission (EARCOM) and those of the Government Printing Press, for their commitment and dedication to duties.
The Permanent Secretary made the commendation recently, during a visit to these establishments as part of her familiarization tour of parastatals under the ministry of Information and Social Re-orientation.
At the Akwa Ibom Newspapers Corporation, AKNC, the Permanent Secretary lauded the efforts of the staff of the corporation in working assiduously to ensure the sustenance of the four editions of the Pioneer Newspaper presently on the Newsstand, inspite of the dearth of the equipment and functional printing press.
Mrs. Udom however, expressed optimism that, with a listening and promise-keeping Governor like Chief Godswill Akpabio, the condition of service at AKNC would soon be improved.
Addressing the Permanent Secretary and her entourage later in the Board room, the General Manager of Akwa Ibom Newspapers Corporation, Mr. Udo Silas, enlisted the achievements of the Corporation since October 1, 2007 to include: the rebranding of Pioneer Newspaper; Purchase of six new vehicles for Management Staff; Purchase of 20 motorcycles for the distribution of Newspapers and Provision of 40 laptops to staff.
Others are: the provision of 45 flat screen and four oval shape table top computers for Management, Desk officers and middle management staff; installation of V-Sat and Website; introduction of Echo and Pioneer Extra as insert in the Pioneer, introduction of the first Pioneer Essay writing competition for Primary and Secondary Schools in the State and the appointment of 33 Senior and Junior Staff into the employ of the corporation, among others.
Mr. Udo Silas, who acknowledged the supportive role of Governor Godswill Akpabio in the success story of AKNC, however listed the challenges facing the corporation to include: lack of modern rotary press; lack of an administrative block and lack of utility vehicles and delivery vans.
At the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, AKBC, The Permanent Secretary was conducted round both the temporary administrative office along Udo Udoma street and the transmitting station at Ntak Inyang by the Director-General, Pastor Praise Okon.
At the Government Printing Press, the Permanent Secretary encouraged both the Management and Staff of the establishment to continue to put in their best and work as unto God, for their story on the dearth in working tools and equipment would soon be over.
Mrs. Margaret Udom expressed with optimism that with an effective representation to the listening Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, by the Commissioner for Information and Social Re-orientation, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, through her inputs, the poor condition of the Government Printing Press would be alleviated.
The Government Printer, Pastor Johnson Udoh, who showed the Permanent Secretary round the vandalized generating set, the age-old dilapidated printing machines and the leaky walls of the printing press, also complained of shortage of staff, due to lack of employment of fresh hands into the printing press since the creation of the state.
Addressing the Commissioners and staff of the Ethical and Attitudinal re-orientation Commission, EARCOM, the Permanent Secretary said, the dearth of working tools and equipment has been a general complain in all the parastatals visited.
Mrs. Udom said the visit was to get acclimatized with the setting and activities of the commission for ease of reference and cordial relationship between EARCOM and its parent Ministry.
In his address, the Executive Chairman of the Ethical and Attitudinal Re-orientation Commission, Deacon Andrew Abasiekong told the Permanent Secretary that, EARCOM was established on April, 2000 to carry out such functions as: awakening the consciousness of the populace to their civic responsibilities; inculcate in citizens the spirit of patriotism, nationalism, self-discipline and self-reliance; propagate the virtues of hard work, honesty and loyalty and promote inter-ethic integration, among others.
Deacon Abasiekong regretted that, most of the mapped out programmes of EARCOM cannot be achieved due to lack of funds and appealed to the permanent Secretary to use her good offices to position EARCOM to carry out its mandate in line with the goals of the government.

On the entourage of the Permanent Secretary were the Director of Information, Mr. Victor Ekpo, the Director of Administration, Barr. Udo Udofia, the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr. Ini Nkantion, the Head of Planning, Research and Statistics, Apostle Henshaw Emah and the Assistant Director, Information, Mrs. Grace Akpan.