The Akwa Ibom state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has banned all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state from making publications of government activities in journals and magazines.
He also directed that all materials and information that the MDAs may want to publish should be channeled to Ministry of Information for proper coordination.
The governor gave the directives on Wednesday, during the second term inaugural State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held at the Council Chamber, Government House, Uyo.
Briefing Government House correspondents shortly after the meeting, the Commissioner of Information, Sir Charles Udoh, explained that the decision was to ensure harmonization of those publications.
According to Udoh, “By that approval, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies have been mandated to discontinue the publication of journals and magazines and by that, all materials and information should be channeled to Ministry of Information for proper coordination.”
Sir Udoh also said that following the resuscitation of the hitherto moribund state-owned paint industry, Peacock Paints, renamed, Ibom Paints Ltd, government has moved to increase patronage of the paints, directing all contractors handling paints-related projects in the state to make use of the product.
He noted, “That has become the regulation of the state government and is binding on all contractors that even when contracts are to be signed, those contracts must indicate that where paints are going to be used, the paints must be Ibom Paints”.
The Information Boss said that the EXCO has re-echoed the Governor’s earlier proposal that as a pre-requisite for appointments, individuals must own a piece of farmland for Agricultural purposes, saying that all Commissioners and major appointees of government must embark on personal farming.
He pointed out that the drive was a desire of government to lead by example in efforts to ensure adequate food for the people of the state while making Akwa Ibom the hub of Agriculture in the country.
Sir Udoh remarked that the EXCO has directed the immediate dissolution of the Local Government Service Commission Board, following the report of the committee set up by the state government to review some irregularities in the activities of the Board.
Recall that few weeks to the end of Governor Emmanuel’s first tenure, he banned all the commissioners and Special Assistants from granting press interviews.
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