Appointment of media DGs: FG keeps lobbyists in check

The decision of the federal government to appoint the next chief executive officers of its media organisations from members of various management staff is restricting the activities of those who had prepared to join the race.  The most senior directors in the various organisations have been acting in such capacities since their respective bosses were […]

The decision of the federal government to appoint the next chief executive officers of its media organisations from members of various management staff is restricting the activities of those who had prepared to join the race. 
The most senior directors in the various organisations have been acting in such capacities since their respective bosses were removed last month. Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that the federal government now wants to appoint chief executive officers for such organisations. 
In February, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, announced the disengagement of the chief executive officers of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Sola Omole, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Ladan Salihu, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Sam Worlu, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ima Niboro, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Emeka Mba, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri. 
Since then, there have been expectations from members of the public about possible replacements. A reliable source informed our reporter that government had started earnest moves for appointments into such positions; and they are looking inwards.
“The federal government has shown preference to look within the six information-related media parastatals for the next substantive heads. A solid proof of this is that the secret files of the substantive directors of the parastatals have been called up for screening,” the source, who spoke in confidence, said. 
The source explained that government took such decision so that those who are eventually appointed would hit the ground running instead of wasting several months learning how the organisations operate. It was gathered that chief executive officers appointed outside such establishments usually spent several months learning the rope. Our source further said that to create room for intelligent continuity, consideration is being given to all substantive directors.   
“All full-fledged directors, not those on acting capacity, are being looked at. And the core professionals among the directors, it would appear, have strong possibilities, considering that government is looking at those who have relevant experiences for quick and maximum impact,” the source said. 
The source, who did not, however, rule out the possibility of appointing “outsiders’’ into such positions if the searchlight on the incumbent directors fails to produce the needed results, said, “Should government not find what they want in any of the organisations, they could look outside, they could bring in somebody. But if that happens, the person will still be the right professional, maybe a retired media person.” 
Checks by Daily Trust on Sunday shows that the level of lobbying for such positions has drastically reduced. It would have been a different story if the race had been thrown open.  
Speaking to our reporter, members of staff in the respective organisations said they preferred people among them as chief executive officers. They said such action would encourage other workers to be more dedicated to their duties, adding that insiders work better. 
At the NTA, the battle for a substantive director-general is said to be quite fierce. Little is mentioned of the acting director-general, Mr. Philip Ofoegbu, but two other executive directors – Ibrahim Damisa and Eugenia Abu – are said to be in a hot contest for the position.  
While Ibrahim Damisa is reportedly close to the presidency and is believed to be banking on that closeness for the eventual appointment, Eugenia Abu, who would pass as one of NTA’s most known faces following her years as a famous newscaster, is rumoured to be reaching out to her wide network of contacts to speak for her. 
Inside sources, however, hinted that apart from the rumours making the rounds, nothing is certain about who becomes NTA’s next director-general.  
“With this government you can’t be sure of anything. All we hear are rumours, and you can’t believe in rumours. The immediate past director-general handed over to the most senior director, Sola Atere, only for us to have the present man a few days later. So what we see is what we believe,” our source said.   
Apart from the acting director-general, Philip Ofoegbu, Ibrahim Damisa, who currently functions as the executive director in charge of training and capacity building, and Eugenia Abu, who is the executive director of programmes, the NTA has four other executive directors who could be considered for the appointment if the federal government truly looks inwards. The other four are Mohammed Umar Saidu, executive director, Engineering; Joseph Reuben Etuk, executive director, Special Duties, Adenike Olufade, executive director, Marketing. Sola Atere is the executive director, News. 
A former big name in the NTA and member of the House of Representatives, Abike Dabiri, was said to be interested in the job. It was rumoured that she could go back to the media organisation as its next director-general. This rumour was rife before the February removal of the chief executive officers of various media organisations. But President Muhammadu Buhari approved her appointment as his senior special assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora almost the same time he approved the removal of the media chiefs. 
Apart from Dabiri, an NTA source spoke of a powerful contender from the South-West. Though he is outside the NTA fold he is said to be pushing for the position. 
It was generally a quiet atmosphere at the FRCN and the Voice of Nigeria, both located at the Radio House, Garki, Abuja. It is the same situation at the NAN, the NBC and the NOA, where the story of the possible appointment of directors-general is not told with much excitement. 
A source at the FRCN said, “You know what this government is. There is little you can do to influence anything. It is not like when it was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former President Goodluck Jonathan.”
In the NOA, it is believed that the substantive director-general is not likely to come from within. From inception, the agency has always been headed by someone outside the system. From Professor Jerry Gana as the first chief executive through the years, the tendency has been to appoint the director-general from the academia or the political class. Academics who have headed the establishment are Jerry Gana, Tunde Adeniran and Aloy Ejiogu.  
The acting director-general, Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoba, is the first “insider’’ to occupy that position, albeit on acting capacity. 
In the VON, it was gathered that the acting director-general is most likely to be named. Ahaziah Abubakar Suleiman, who was the executive director of News when Sam Worlu was removed from the position of director-general, is the only core media practitioner. The acting directors-general of the other five organisations were executive directors in charge of finance. 
He is favoured by members of staff who think alongside the federal government. They maintain that the one who knows an organisation properly should be appointed for the top job.