By Mercy Adi
Senator Kenneth Emeka Eze, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, has expressed deep concern over the zero budget allocation given to agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation. Speaking at the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Eze emphasized the urgent need for adequate funding in the sector.
“How do agencies survive with zero allocation? Their situation is pathetic, and urgent intervention is needed,” Senator Eze stated. He highlighted the dire financial struggles faced by agencies such as the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), which lacks funding to even pay salaries. “Last year, I made it clear that the Press Council does not pay salaries. They are not surviving.”
Senator Eze also noted that regulatory bodies are overwhelmed with legal battles, which hinder their operations. “These agencies regulate the press and electronic media. Yet, they have over 100 court cases, and none of these media houses are paying fines. The National Assembly must intervene by amending existing laws to ease their burden.”
The senator painted a grim picture of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which has 774 offices nationwide but operates under severe neglect. “Visit any NOA office in your local government, and you’ll see the state of decay. Some offices are non-functional. Staff have retired with no replacements. How can they work effectively under such conditions?”
Senator Eze stressed the widening gap between government-funded media and private-sector competitors, citing poor salaries and inadequate funding as key challenges. “How much does NTA pay its staff compared to private media houses? Talented individuals prefer private stations because they offer better salaries. This affects content quality.”
Despite these challenges, Senator Eze praised NTA for maintaining high-quality content and international reach. “NTA is doing well, but it needs more funding to compete effectively. Their content is rich, but without support, they cannot improve