THE importance of radio in enlightening, educating and
entertaining the general public cannot be over emphasized. Radio is one of
the tools used by government to sell its policies and programmes to the
people. It also serves as mouth piece where people expressed their opinion
against or in support of any government in power.
History shows that radio was used as a means of
propaganda especially during war. While during electioneering campaign
politicians sell out their manifestoes to the electorate.
It is because of the importance attached to radio station
that government-either civilion or military sees it as a matter of
obligation to set up their radio stations.
Radio Jigawa was set up shortly after the creation of the
state in 1991. The station was luckly to have experienced and talented staff
invited from old Kano radio station.
Jigawa Radio station received a tremendous support during
past administrations in the state. The staff of the station received all
encouragement from previous management of the station that resulted into the
rating of the station to be one of the best in the country.
However, things started to change at the station some two
years back when the station facilities developed problems due to old age and
lack of proper maintenance. Hopes by the staff to start enjoying the
dividend of democracy was dashed as government in power refuses to address
the problem of the station.
It is a fact that Ibrahim Saminu Turaki used the station
to propagate against his political opponents which gave him all the chances
to beat them at the general polls both during the 1998 and 2003 elections.
Unfortunately, Governor Turaki allows the station, to
remain in critical situation and on a verge of collapse. Governor Turaki who
is not mindful of the huge amount spent on publicity to other radio stations
refuses to provide fund to reactivate the dying state radio.
It is to the dismay of every working journalist in Jigawa
state how the government abandoned its radio station and frustrated its
staff.
Any visitor to Jigawa radio station will sympathize with
the terrible situation of the station especially as regards to lack of
modern facilities and conducive atmosphere of working. It is very
disheartening that the condition in which staff work is very pathetic and
the newsroom is very unencouraging with one computer.
One can say, the condition of Jigawa state radio station
becomes worst after the demise of the late Usman Zakari management. Since
then the station remained without a good management to oversee its affairs.
However, hope for putting the station into a good condition rings back into
the minds of the staff when government appointed Hajiya Hauwa Sule as
general manager and Maryam Muhammad as secretary of the station. But few
months after their appointment government is yet to respond to the problems
facing the station.
Distributed by the situation of the station the staff on
august 4th 2004 held a meeting. The meeting was organised by NUJ and RATTAWU
chapel of the station and came up with seventeen point communiqu�.
The communiqu�, jointly signed by Comrade Dan Malam
Baranda and Adamu Abdullahi Wurno, chairman and secretary of joint executive
council of NUJ and RATTAWU lamented the lukeworm attitude by the Jigawa
state government to boost the morale of the ailing station, the communiqu�
reads: "We noted with great concern the amount being spent by the government
to sell its policies and programmes through some electronic media while
Radio Jigawa is not enjoying the same privilege to boost the ailing station"
The communiqu� said presently the station has no single functional vehicle
for distance traveling because all vehicles purchased since 1991 when the
station was commissioned were grounded.
The meeting commented the situation of the condition of
administrative block and urged government to revisit the situation. It
lamented the lack of training, retraining and motivation to staff. Stoppage
of medical expenses and lack f brand new transmitters, pointing out that the
existing transmitters are outdated.
The meeting also observed the lack of general maintenance
of service on the transmitters and other machines as the primary cause of
technical problem. The meeting advised that management of the station that
it should introduce periodic award of excellence to deserving staff while
government should provide special fund to the station for general and
monthly maintenance of its equipments.
Reacting to the communiqu�, the state commissioner of
information, Alhaji Abba Kukuma said government is aware of problem facing
the radio station. Alhaji Kukuma said plans are underway to solve the
problems facing the station. According to Kukuma a team of government
officials had recently visited Singapore in preparations for the proposed
state television.
But the question many people ask is for how long the
staff of radio and Jigawa people wait for the government to restore the last
glory of the station.
Jigawa state government should, in the interest of the
people address the problems facing its own radio station's long silence on
problems facing the station, is not the answer, but quick action.
Mu'awuyya B. Idris is Triumph correspondent, Dutse
