The Zamfara Government has earmarked N1.3billion in the 2024 Appropriation Bill for the digitalisation of the state-owned radio and television stations and Legacy Newspapers Company.
The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mannir Haidara, disclosed this in Gusau on Monday after defending the ministry’s budget before the state House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation.
The state Governor, Dauda Lawal, had on Thursday, presented N423.5 billion 2024 Appropriation Bill to the House for approval.
Haidara further said that the digitalisation projects would be implemented under Lawal’s policy to revive the media industry in the state.
“As we all know, the ministry is responsible for information dissemination in the state, we initiated various projects to upgrade the state media industry in line with good policies and programmes of Gov Lawal’s administration,” he added.
Haidara further said that other organisations to benefit from the digitalisation project included Zamfara Censorship Board and Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency.
“The state government would implement total renovation and supply of modern equipment to Zamfara AM Radio stations, Gold City FM Radio, State-owned Legacy Newspapers Company and State Censorship Board,
“Other projects to be implemented include the building of newly established state-owned media corporation, supply of modern equipment, computers as well as procurement of vehicles.”
Earlier, the Chairman House Committee on Appropriation, Alhaji Halliru Abdullahi, commended the ministry’s performance in revenue generation.
Kuturu urged other government ministries, departments and parastatals to emulate the information commissioner for promoting the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.