Minister inaugurates boards, charges members to support fight against corruption

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has inaugurated some of the boards of parastatals and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, with a charge to members to support the ongoing anti-corruption war of the Buhari administration.

“May I also remind you that one of this administration’s three cardinal programmes is the fight against corruption and entrenchment of accountability and transparency. All board members are therefore charged to support the government in this direction,” the Minister said in Abuja last Friday at a ceremony to inaugurate the boards.

He told the board members that their role is to formulate policies, and not to engage in the day-to-day running of the organisations.

“The board is to evolve strategic ways of supporting the agency so it can most effectively deliver its mandate. I am sure some of you are already conversant with this, but it is necessary to restate it for the benefit of all,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He also informed the members that with the introduction of the Integrated Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in the payment of staff salaries in the public service, agencies are constrained in employing staff until permission is sought and received from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

ALSO READ: IGP on cattle ranches

The Minister commended the board members for their support and loyalty to the President and the administration, and urged them to see their appointment as another opportunity to contribute their own quota to the success of the administration.

In his vote of thanks on behalf of other members, the Chairman of the National Gallery of Art, Ambassador Umaru Suleiman, said the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture is a service ministry, hence members are supposed to add value to the system and make a difference in wherever they find themselves.

The inaugurated boards are those of the News Agency of Nigeria; Voice of Nigeria; National Gallery of Art; National Orientation Agency; National Commission for Museums and Monuments; National Theatre and National Troupe; and National Council for Arts and Culture.

Others are: National Institute for Cultural Orientation; Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation; National Films and Videos Censors Board; Nigerian Film Corporation; National Broadcasting Commission and National Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation.