Abuja – The Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday said the management was working assiduously to improve the financial base of the agency.
Onanuga said this when the executive members of the FCT Chapter of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) paid him a courtesy call in Abuja.
Onanuga, who assumed as the substantive managing director of the agency in May, said the exigencies of the country’s economy required strategic thinking and frugal management of funds.
“We are not going to rely on government entirely as our funding source. We are working hard to ensure that the agency generates funds to supplement statutory subventions.
“The recession is real due to the fall in the international price of crude oil and so we must think outside of the box to go through these difficult times,’’ he said.
On welfare, Onanuga said the management would continue to do its best to respond to the needs of the employees, adding that “we will not be irresponsive to our staff’’.
“If the management succeeds in actualising some of its business exploits, funds would be made available and the staff would be happy.
“I am trying very hard to see if I can make a difference to reposition the agency for greater productivity,’’ Onanuga said.
On the demand for approval of new condition of service for the staff of the agency, the managing director said discussions were going on to review the various issues raised in the document.
He, therefore, expressed delight on the visit, adding that the agency required the cooperation of workers unions to make progress.
Earlier, Mr Benjamin Anthony, Chairman of the union, said the executive body of the FCT chapter of AUPCTRE visited to felicitate with Onanuga on his appointment as MD of NAN.
Anthony also said the visit was intended to help strengthen working relations between the management and the local chapter of the union.
“First, we want to welcome you to the agency and we hope your appointment was made to put the agency in a proper shape.
“We hope and pray that your reign here would be a success.
“We are aware of your great exploit in the industry and we are urging you to bring that great experience of media management to bear in NAN,’’ Anthony said.
He further said: “We are pleading with the in-house AUPCTRE to cooperate with you to take NAN to greater height.’’
Also, Mr Waheed Sikiru, Secretary of the union, urged the management of the agency to take the welfare of their members serious, saying promotions and allowances should not be withheld from members.
He further urged the MD to ensure timely consideration was given to the draft conditions of service with the view to sending same for approval.
NAN reports that the agency’s Editor-In-Chief, Alhaji Lawal Ado, led some senior management staff to grace the occasion. (NAN)
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