Buhari’s achievements under-reported — Oyo-Ita

The Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF), Mrs Winifred
Oyo-Ita says the achievements recorded by President Muhammadu
Buhari’s administration are not being given adequate publicity.

She made this known on Thursday in Abuja, during a peer review
visit of Federal Permanent Secretaries to the Ministry of
Information and Culture.

The peer review, an initiative of the HOSF is designed to
acquaint permanent secretaries with the functions of all
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and to compare
notes.

Oyo-Ita called for improved funding for the Ministry of
Information and Culture and its parastatal agencies to enable it
carry out its statutory duties of disseminating and propagating
government activities, programmes and achievements.

“I want to emphasise that this administration is doing a
marvelous job.
Though we are part of it, but we can attest to that fact.

“I am from Cross River state and I know the number of roads that
are being constructed including the Calabar to Umuahia road.

“However, we are not getting adequate report of what the
administration is achieving.

“I don’t know if it is intentional by the private media not to
give adequate reports on these or whether it has some political
undertone,’’ she said.

Oyo-Ita said the Ministry of Information and Culture should be
accorded a “grade A’’ status because of its crucial mandate of
projecting the image of the country nationally and
internationally.

The HOSF called for firm regulatory oversight by the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in censoring children cartoons on pay
television.

She decried the showing of children cartoon series with
unwholesome theme and images depicting lesbianism and
homosexuality.

The number one civil servant also underscored the need for a
befitting national gallery for the nation.

She kicked against the proposed plan to give a space for a
national gallery in the Millennium Tower under construction.

“It is the most inappropriate place to situate a National
Gallery.

“In other climes, National galleries are located in beautiful
and large location not inside a commercial complex that the
Millennium Tower is going to be,’’ she said..

The HOSF commended the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of
Information and Culture, Grace Gekpe for her skillfulness and
ability to get 94 per cent budgetary release to the ministry in
2017.

Earlier in a presentation, Gekpe said there was cordial
relationship among the ministry, its 18 parastatal agencies, their
leadership and members of staff.

She said no fewer than 269 officers were trained in 201, and the
management was relating well with labour union bodies in the
ministry.

For effective performance, Gekpe called for the placement of
tourism sector on the concurrent list rather than the residual list
where it was placed.

Items on residual list are those under the regulatory
supervision of only the Federal and state governments to the
exclusion of the local government while all the three arms of
governments regulate items in residual list.

The permanent secretary thanked the HOSF for the award of
contract for the reactivation of elevators in Radio House, the
Headquarters of the Ministry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were
interventions, contributions and suggestions by other permanent
secretaries in attendance. (NAN)

The Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF), Mrs Winifred
Oyo-Ita says the achievements recorded by President Muhammadu
Buhari’s administration are not being given adequate
publicity.

She made this known on Thursday in Abuja, during a peer review
visit of Federal Permanent Secretaries to the Ministry of
Information and Culture.

The peer review, an initiative of the HOSF is designed to
acquaint permanent secretaries with the functions of all
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and to compare
notes.

Oyo-Ita called for improved funding for the Ministry of
Information and Culture and its parastatal agencies to enable it
carry out its statutory duties of disseminating and propagating
government activities, programmes and achievements.

“I want to emphasise that this administration is doing a
marvelous job.
Though we are part of it, but we can attest to that fact.

“I am from Cross River state and I know the number of roads that
are being constructed including the Calabar to Umuahia road.

“However, we are not getting adequate report of what the
administration is achieving.

“I don’t know if it is intentional by the private media not to
give adequate reports on these or whether it has some political
undertone,’’ she said.

Oyo-Ita said the Ministry of Information and Culture should be
accorded a “grade A’’ status because of its crucial mandate of
projecting the image of the country nationally and
internationally.

The HOSF called for firm regulatory oversight by the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in censoring children cartoons on pay
television.

She decried the showing of children cartoon series with
unwholesome theme and images depicting lesbianism and
homosexuality.

The number one civil servant also underscored the need for a
befitting national gallery for the nation.

She kicked against the proposed plan to give a space for a
national gallery in the Millennium Tower under construction.

“It is the most inappropriate place to situate a National
Gallery.

“In other climes, National galleries are located in beautiful
and large location not inside a commercial complex that the
Millennium Tower is going to be,’’ she said..

The HOSF commended the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of
Information and Culture, Grace Gekpe for her skillfulness and
ability to get 94 per cent budgetary release to the ministry in
2017.

Earlier in a presentation, Gekpe said there was cordial
relationship among the ministry, its 18 parastatal agencies, their
leadership and members of staff.

She said no fewer than 269 officers were trained in 201, and the
management was relating well with labour union bodies in the
ministry.

For effective performance, Gekpe called for the placement of
tourism sector on the concurrent list rather than the residual list
where it was placed.

Items on residual list are those under the regulatory
supervision of only the Federal and state governments to the
exclusion of the local government while all the three arms of
governments regulate items in residual list.

The permanent secretary thanked the HOSF for the award of
contract for the reactivation of elevators in Radio House, the
Headquarters of the Ministry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were
interventions, contributions and suggestions by other permanent
secretaries in attendance. (NAN)