From Maiharaji Altine
Zamfara state government has banned all political office holders, groups or heads of agencies from conducting any interview, issue statement or air a programme on radio, television and social media without seeking permission from the authority.
The government has also warned media organisations based in the state to desist from conducting or airing any radio or television programme without the approval of the ministry of Information.
In a statement, the commissioner of information, Munnir Haidara said, the information ministry was highly committed to observing and monitoring all radio stations for compliance.
The statement reads in parts as follows:-
“The Zamfara state government has observed with dismay the attitudes of some individuals, political groups and heads of MDA,s towards conducting radio, television stations and social media platforms interview and programmes on state government’s policies and programmes without following the right channels”.
“In an effort to checkmate the unwanted behavior, the Zamfara state Ministry of Information and Culture hereby announce 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 organisations 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 observe and monitor the radio stations for compliance and ensuring that all Information passed to general public on government and it’s policies are true and properly disseminated”.
It could be recalled that, the state’s Community Protection Guards’ Commandant, Colonel Rabiu Garba (retd) was suspended by the state government for conducting a live program at Vision FM radio Gusau, where he accused the state government of poor funding of the Community Protection Guards.
Colonel Garba said the state government did not give any takeoff grant to the Community Protection Guards and has failed to pay the salary of the CPG’s officials for three months.
Garba also added that, the state government could not fuel the CPG’s patrol vehicles to allow its personnel to conduct their activities
