Gombe FM stations jostling for attention
Abill currently before the House of Representatives is seeking to reposition the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in such a way that each of the six geopolitical zones of the country would have a national station, including one in Abuja and Lagos.
The bill passed second reading last month and was referred to the committee on information and national orientation for further action.
It is titled “A bill for an Act to amend the FRCN Act, Cap F18 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010 to provide for national stations in each of the geo-political zones, Abuja and Lagos, to enhance efficient service delivery and for related matters.”
In all, the bill has seven clauses, which means it seeks to amend seven sections of the FRCN Act.
A cardinal objective of the bill is to substitute the position of “managing directors” under the current Act with “directors” to ensure harmonious and wellcoordinated governance structure, according to the bill sponsor, Rep Garba Ibrahim Mohammed (APC, Kano).
Our correspondent observed from a copy of the bill that what obtains in the Act is a situation where the positions of heads of national stations are referred to as “managing directors” whereas they are actually “directors.”
Other objectives of the bill include to enhance efficient service delivery, reposition FRCN to acquire capacity to meet the information needs and expectations of Nigerians, diversify the corporation’s services to ensure listeners’ satisfaction and strengthen the corporation to discharge its statutory mandate.