Scarce Resources: Obaseki moves to Privatize Media Outfits, plans redeployment of Assembly Staff

Governor Godwin Obaseki has disclosed his administration’s plan to privatize the State-owned Nigerian Observer Newspaper and Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS).

The governor disclosed this on Thursday, July 6, 2017 to members of the Correspondent’s Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Edo state stating that the media outfits has become a liability to the government as they are not self sustaining.

The State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State council, Sir Roland Osakwe has however urged the governor to reconsider the plan.

According to the governor, “anything worth doing is worth doing well because government has no business in some of these  business.

“They (Media outfits) have to compete and run like some of these private media houses.

“If they cannot run it themselves, I have no option because I cannot take money meant for the renovation of primary schools and other infrastructures  to service them.

“Bendel Brewery has about N2bn debt, Bendel Insurance and Edo Line are no longer sustainable,” he said.

Governor Obaseki  also decried what he termed as outrageous staff strength of the  State House of Assembly.

He disclosed that the Assembly which is made up of 24-member legislators has a support staff of 724.

Obaseki said: “the ratio is just too much. The problem is not the lack of resources, but inefficient system where we waste what we have.

“Thank God we have reached an understanding with the House leadership,” the governor said.

He however explained that the excess workers will not be disengaged, but redeployed to other government ministries where they will be useful.