Presidency Shares Responsibilities between Akunyili, Bilbis

Written by Duncan Monday, 19 October 2009

The Presidency has waded in to douse the cold war between the Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, and her Minister of State, Alhaji Ikra Bilbis, by sharing the responsibilities of the ministry between the duo.

A memo dated September 16, 2009, with ref No 59311/T/151 from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation obtained by THISDAY communicated the new schedule of responsibilities to both ministers. 

There has been a cold war between the two ministers over the issue of responsibilities which reared its head during the 2.3GHz saga. Akunyili was alleged to have directed that certain agencies which hitherto reported to the Minister of State should begin to report directly to her.

The affected agencies include the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST)?and the Universal Service Provision Fund for Telecoms.  These took major responsibilities off the Minister of State. 

Following the intervention of the President, the supervision of the three agencies under contention has now been moved to the Minister of State. 

The new schedule of responsibilities indicates that the Minister of State has full powers and responsibilities over telecoms spectrum licensing and other matters relating to telecoms, while Akunyili will provide overall leadership and guidance for the attainment of the goals and objectives of the Ministry. She will also provide oversight in the formulation and implementation of policies necessary for the realisation of the mandate of the ministry.

Other duties of the Minister include making public statements on behalf of government when the need arises and chairing press briefing sessions of ministers of government. She also gets to oversee licensing of radio frequencies for broadcasting (spectrum) and providing oversight for the domestic and overseas publicity, including the implementation of the rebranding projects, regulation of/and relationship with the mass media; information/publications of government and government press.

She also oversees parastatals such as the Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, Nigerian Press Council; News Agency of Nigeria, Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board, Nigerian Film Corporation and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

She ratifies the decisions of the Ministerial Tenders Board to ensure full compliance with the statutory procurement laws and regulations and initiates and presents the Ministry’s memoranda at the Federal Executive Council.

Bilbris, on the other hand, gets to assist the Minister in the formulation and implementation of policies within his scheduled areas in a manner that supports the realisation of the mandate of the Ministry.

These involve overseeing the regulation of the postal and telecommunications industries of the country, including licensing frequencies for telecommunications. The development of rural telecommunications, reform of the telecoms and postal sectors, bilateral and multilateral relations on postal and telecoms matters.

Bilbris will also oversee NCC, NIPOST and the Universal Service Provision Fund. He will also lead the country’s delegation to international conferences on postal and telecoms services and carry out any duties that may be assigned by the Minister.

The Presidency also stipulated in the memo that in the absence of the Honourable Minister, the Honourable Minister of State takes full charge of the ministry with the rights and privileges.