State Media Outfit, NBS Gets Assembly Support for Autonomy

By Valentine Joshua

Members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly have thrown their weight behind the autonomy of the state media outfit, Nasarawa Broadcasting Service NBS.

The lawmakers took the stance at the Monday’s plenary when the bill to repeal the act establishing NBS passed second reading.

After passing into first reading a bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the act establishing Nasarawa Broadcasting Service NBS, the State House of Assembly at the Monday’s plenary considered the bill for second reading.

Deputy Majority Leader, of the house, Abel Bala, while presenting the substance of the bill said is apt to give NBS legal backing for effective dissemination of information in the State.

However, members of the state house of Assembly were divided on inputs to be made into the the bill as member representing Doma South Constituency, Musa Ibrahim Abubakar led some members to condemn the Ministry of Information for taken total control of the state media outfit, advocating autonomy to allow NBS compete with its contemporaries.

On the position of Director General being canvassed in the bill, member representing Awe North, Hudu A. Hudu, a former staff of NBS led other lawmakers to kicked against it, saying that will amount to politicizing the activities of the media house, calling for the retention of the position of the General Manager to allow staff grow in their cadre.

After listening to the debate, the Speaker Danladi Jatau committed the bill to the House committee on Information to work on it and report back to the House on May 6th, 2024.