By: Benedict Okache/Okan Peter
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| Produce from the Cross River State printing press being displayed for the Honourable Commissioner for Information |
The Cross River State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Comrade Asu Okang has called on the federal government to as a matter of priority grant waivers on the importation of print materials into the country in order to reduce the growing cost of printing and its impact on the economy of the nation
Comrade Okang stated this on Wednesday while in continuation of his familiarization visit to the Government Printing Press Department, Calabar for inspection of facilities, get firsthand knowledge and doings of the printing outfit.
“It cost nothing less than two to three billion Naira to print two container loads of books from outside; either from Malaysia, India and Dubai which are the leading printing points in the world. So, government should remove taxes on importation of papers and printing materials. Currently, government is imposing high taxes on importation of printing materials which is adversely affecting the printing industry in Nigeria resulting in capital flight,” the Commissioner averred.
The Information and Orientation Commissioner further charged the Management and Staff of Government Printing Press to brace up to the new information order in the State, emphasizing that he is in the Ministry to re-ignite the passion to work for better Productivity as it is no more business as usual.
Comrade Okang who lamented over the huge amount of money spent on printing outside Government Printing Press by Government agencies, hinted that soonest there will be so much work for the Government Printing Press and the lost glory will return.
He expressed concern over the growing dearth of staff in the Government Printing Press, noting that in the next three years, most of the current staff will retire from the State service and advised that a succession plan must be in place immediately. He therefore mandated the Government Printer, Comrade John Ushie to as a matter of urgency propose for the employment of ten young professionals in the area of printing to be forwarded to the Governor for approval.
According to him, “a lot of passion has been weighed down because of certain conditions of service. I see very passionate, zealous staff that are determined to work, very busy printing government gazettes and raising revenue but unfortunately they have now found a degeneration in that field; passion being punctured and completely depleted. Now, they just manage to come to work and wait for retirement date. I’m here to re-ignite that passion,” the Commissioner remarked.
“Henceforth, all government agencies will print their letter heads with us, we’ll negotiate any commission they want to work with us. Let them come with the job provided we can work, raise revenue for government. I will engage my colleagues one on one and see how we can foster working relationships especially the Ministry of Education, SUBEB and others who have voluminous printing jobs. I’m sure they will work with us because we mean no harm, all we need is progress for Cross River State,” he concluded.
The Information and Orientation Commissioner used the occasion to congratulate the Government Printer, Comrade John Ushie on his assumption of office as the President of the National Union of Printing, Publishing And Paper Product Workers (NUPPROW) in Nigeria, describing it as ‘no mean feat’ and charged him to bring his wealth of experience to bear in the management of a new digital Press being put in place by the State Government.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Dr Aye Henshaw applauded the Commissioner for his visionary leadership and proactive disposition that is already yielding results and craved for support from the staff to achieve more for the State in line with the new drive.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Government Printer, Comrade John Ushie while thanking Governor Ben Ayade for appointing Comrade Asu Okang as the Information and Orientation Commissioner, said it was a clear manifestation of his administrative doggedness with capacity and competence as the former Commissioner for Youth and Sports that has earned him a re-appointment to do more for the State.
Comrade Ushie gave a background of the Printing Press and enumerated a number of constraints faced by the Department, pointing out that he is very confident that the new Commissioner will live up to expectations in his agenda for the Ministry.
These constraints Comrade Ushie noted include; lack of electricity and standby generating set, obsolete equipment, leaking roof, outdated computers, low patronage from Government agencies and inadequate staff, amongst others.
The inspection visit was climaxed with an interactive meeting by the Commissioner with Management and Staff of the Government Printing Press.
