By Rita Iliya

Malam Ali M Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has promised to improve the working environment for the personnel of the agency. .

He spoke on Saturday when he visited the agency’s Minna Zonal office to assess its situation.

Ali was received by Alhaji Mohammed Bababusu, Zonal Manager in charge of Niger, Kogi and Nasarawa.

He commended the zonal manager and members of staff for their resilience and dedication to work.

Ali reiterated his commitment to providing a conducive environment that befit the agency’s mandate, adding that: “I have seen the condition of the NAN Minna office, this structure is not befitting to staff of the agency to work.

“People need the right environment to work, and here is not the right environment. It is a shame that the agency still has structures like this.

“We will send our Engineers from Abuja to the Minna office to give us a professional assessment of what can be done.

“The agency would not leave any of its offices behind in terms of development.”

Ali said that a recent tour of offices in the North-East had provided valuable insights into the requirements for improvement.

The managing director also extolled the leadership of the zonal manager, saying, ”as the son of the soil, you are leveraging on your contacts for the glory of the agency.”

He, however, cautioned against joining local politics, warning that defaulters would be sanctioned, adding that, “NAN is a professional media organisation respected globally, and efforts were being made to reposition it”.

While reitrating commitment to the welfare of staff, Ali announced plans to establish a multimedia unit in the Minna office, deploy more workforce, and open district offices in Bida, Suleja, Kontagora and New Bussa.

He urged the staff to keep up the good work by focusing more on exclusive stories.

Earlier, Bababusu, thanked the managing director for the changes he has so far brought to the agency, particularly in the editorial department, adding that his achievements were visible across NAN offices.

“We have long wished for your visit to the NAN Minna office and I want to appeal for your regular visits to the zonal offices to address their challenges,” he said

Bababusu said that the Minna office required an overhaul, adding,” the current office space is not befitting.”

The zonal manager appealed for provisions to enable the zonal managers to periodically visit offices under their zones. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Bashir Rabe Mani