…promises to employ 20 casual staff
The Cross River State Commissioner for Information, Hon Erasmus Ekpang, Friday, moved to kick-start Cross River State Television Station in Ikom.
Erasmus made the disclosure during his tour of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) Ikom Station, where the Head of the Station, Mrs Mary Ushie, warmly welcomed him along with management and staff of the station.
Ushie who took the Commissioner round the various departments and units including the premises of the station expressed joy for the on the spot familiarization visit to the station.
It would be recalled that the equipment to commence television broadcast were yet to be installed and running after 10 years.
The Commissioner said the Sen Prince Bassey Otu-led administration is purely grassroots and for the people, and anything the people of Cross River State deserve will be given to them unconditionally based on the thrust of the new administration.
He also said with his visit he will ensure the needed value addition to the station is given within a period of time.
According to the chief information officer of the State, programmes and well created contents that suit the different tribes of the State including age limits will be encouraged, to give the people a sense of belong as the Ikom Station is meant to reach Cross River State Central and North with radio and TV with grassroots appeal.
He also said as far as the TV station is concerned accurate information and open accountability about governance will be made public to the people of Cross River State and the world.
Meanwhile, during his interaction with staff and management of the Station, he discovered some people working there had no permanent employment but had over 20 years rendered services, and promised to regularize their employment while he tasked staff to work with vigour, vision and passion as Government is working hard to address and ameliorate their plight including welfare packages and other incentives.
However, he said the station should aggressively generate revenue for government coffer, and added that the enabling environment to achieve this will be provided as soon as possible.