Written By: Jacobs Dunga, Lagos
The government of Zamfara State, through the Honourable Commissioner of Information, has placed a formal ban on every individual holding political offices in the state.
The ban comes as a result of government officials leaking the government’s policies and programmes without due authorization.
In a bid to curb the menace that has hit the incumbent government, the information commissioner has revealed the decision of the state government to deal with anyone found violating the regulations.
In his speech, he urged media organizations to refrain from engaging in programming without the sanction of the government through the Ministry of Information.
The commissioner, Mannir Haidara, said the information ministry is highly committed to observing and monitoring all radio stations for compliance.
“The Zamfara state government has observed with dismay the attitudes of some individuals, political groups, and heads of MDAs towards conducting radio, television stations, and social media platforms interviews and programmes on state government’s policies and programmes without following the right channels”.
“To checkmate the unwanted behaviour, the Zamfara state Ministry of Information and Culture hereby announces that henceforth no political office holder, group or head of any agencies is allowed to conduct any interview, issue statement or air a programme on radio, television stations or social media without seeking a permission from the authority”.
“Moreover, the Ministry of Information and Culture is hereby calling on the media organizations based in the state to desist from conducting or airing any radio or television programmes on government’s policies for any individuals or group of people without the approval of the supervising Ministry or the Ministry of Information“.
“The information ministry is highly committed to observing and monitoring the radio stations for compliance and ensuring that all Information passed to the general public on government and its policies are true and properly disseminated”.
The state, Which houses over five million people is under the leadership of Dauda Lawal of the People’s Democratic Republic (PDP) and is regarded as a densely populated state.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
