News Desk
The Abuja Newspapers Distributors Association (ANDA), has congratulated one of its critical stakeholders and publisher of Blueprint Newspaper, Alh Mohammed Idris, on his appointment as Minister of Information and National Orientation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
A statement personally signed by the president of the association, Comr. Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John, on Sunday, said his association was grateful to President Tinubu for appointing Alh. Idris as a minister and putting him in charge of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, adding that the appointment was well-deserved and a round peg in a round hole.
The newspaper distributors boss said he was optimistic that the reign of Alh. Idris, who is coming from the media industry, would bring about a total turnaround for the print media, which is presently facing challenges due to the advent of new media and some government policies such as monetization.
He said one agenda item the minister must vigorously pursue is the cancellation of the monetization policy. He said the policy, introduced by the Obasanjo government, had dealt a big blow to the newspaper industry as appropriated funds for newspapers and magazines in government offices are diverted and used for other purposes.
Emmanuel urged the minister to impress it on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and President Tinubu, who is also a publisher, to cancel the policy and make it compulsory for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), to buy all newspapers and magazines on a daily basis for their top management staff. He said such government patronage, which is adequately provided for in the annual appropriation act, would greatly revive the ailing industry, thereby impacting positively on his members.
