Yemisi Izuora
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has
inaugurated some of the boards of parastatals and agencies under the
Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, with a charge to members
to support the ongoing anti-corruption war of the Buhari
Administration.
“May I also remind you that one of this Administration’s three
cardinal programmes is the fight against corruption and entrenchment
of accountability and transparency. All board members are therefore
charged to support the government in this direction,” the Minister
said in Abuja on Friday at a ceremony to inaugurate the boards.
He told the board members that their role is to formulate policies,
and not to engage in the day-to-day running of the organizations.
“The board is to evolve strategic ways of supporting the agency so it
can most effectively deliver its mandate. I am sure some of you are
already conversant with this, but it is necessary to restate it here
for the benefit of all,” Alhaji Mohammed said.
He also informed the members that with the introduction of the
Integrated Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in the payment of staff
salaries in the public service, agencies are constrained in employing
staff until permission is sought and received from the Office of the
Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
The Minister commended the board members for their support and loyalty
to the President and the administration, and urged them to see their
appointment as another opportunity to contribute their own quota to
the success of the Administration.
In his vote of thanks on behalf of other members, the Chairman of the
National Gallery of Art, Ambassador Umaru Suleiman, said the Federal
Ministry of Information and Culture is a service ministry, hence
members are supposed to add value to the system and make a difference
in wherever they find themselves.
The inaugurated boards are those of the News Agency of Nigeria; Voice
of Nigeria; National Gallery of Art; National Orientation Agency;
National Commission for Museums and Monuments; National Theatre and
National Troupe; and National Council for Arts and Culture.
Others are: National Institute for Cultural Orientation; Nigerian
Tourism Development Corporation; National Films and Videos Censors
Board; Nigerian Film Corporation; National Broadcasting Commission and
National Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization.