The new commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, has tasked media practitioners in the state on developmental journalism in order to move the state forward.
Barr. Orji who made the call in Abakaliki on Friday September 13, during his official resumption meeting with staff of the ministry, information officers and journalists in the state, said he would create a central information data base for easy accessing of information from ministers, parastatals, local government areas and Development Centers.
Orji said he would soon lunch the Ministry’s comprehensive strategic action plan for the period of 2019- 2023, adding that he would bring about empowerment that will encourage ICT development for the information officers and others in the ministry.
He rolled out immediate innovative interventions and reform measures for the Ministry. He said that the Ministry would promote e-governance system of the State that will be robust , seamless and effective.
According to him, there would be a comprehensive swap of the information officers in the weeks ahead, while a central information data base will be created for accessing information on monthly basis from information officers in their various places of duty.
The information required from them include pictures, visuals and videos of projects and programmes of the MDA’s, LGAs/DCs.
“The Ministry shall have official WhatsApp account called ‘CITY OF DAVID’ which shall be strictly for information about the daily project/Programme performance of each MDA and LGA/DC, showing the location and extent of work done, including as it was and as it is.
“We will launch official website/portal, Facebook and Instagram accounts which shall be a mirror through which the world shall view the day to day activities of Government.
“The ministry is going to emphasize on developmental journalism and the ministry will work closely with journalists in the state. Also, all the parastals will be given free hand to operate.
“We are going to develop what is called performance evaluation form so that every week you fill the form and tell us what you have done, but that will come after the training and retraining of information officers.
“We will from time to time carry out award for best performing information officers and the best ministry as well as local government.
The information officers should take reportage through documentaries, commentaries, and news items seriously and there would be monthly press briefing to keep the public abreast of the Programmes and projects of Government.
“Every effort would be made to revive the state Government printing press and make it run purely as a limited liability company. The State LEED would be kept busy with private adverts as seen in other advanced countries so as to enhance the revenue profile of the Ministry MOI & So”.
He used the opportunity to set up a technical committee that will come up with what it will take to equip the information officers so that they could perform better in their various places of work.
Prince Anya Okorie, Director of Information in the ministry, urged the information officers to sharpen their pen, pointing out that all hands must be on deck to achieve their goals.
Other staff of the ministry also expressed their happiness for having Barr. Orji in their mist, while assuring him of their readiness to work with him.
