Gentlemen and ladies
The office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Chief Executive is massive, and it comes with enormous responsibilities. The office is daily encumbered with such responsibilities as, organizing, overseeing, vetting, assigning responsibilities to his team, briefing etc.
The CPS as head of a Press Centre (Directorate of Media in Government House) operates just like a Commandant in the military or paramilitary; he operates like a Director in a Theatre, an Editor in media houses.
In the Press Centre, there are various appointees with designations ranging from SSA, SA etc. to Media. Further to that, the CPS usually engages story writers who report daily on happenings or developments in government that needs to be disseminated to the public.
Just like you would not see Commandants or Commissioners of Police holding AK-47 but their lieutenants, so is a CPS.
He is not supposed to necessarily be dishing out news stories himself. He has his lieutenants who are saddled with such responsibilities. The CPS handles such other more tasking works like issuing Press Releases or Press Statements, handling briefings, Press Conferences, interviews for his boss, sponsoring articles or features in the media etc.
In my office as CPS, for instance, I have my secretary, Nelson Ushafa who on my directives do write stories and report events as they happen. I have those supporting the work for now, like Angula Bishop Reuben, Isaac Uzaan and Donald Kumun etc. these guys are so far, doing great in reporting daily on developments in government.
Perhaps you may want to doubt my explanation here. Then, I'll give you an example. Who can name the present head of the media in Aso Villa? His name is Chief Ajuri Ngelale. Who can point out to me how many stories he has authored as a “reporter” on developments in the central government or presidency? Remember Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu in PMB's government? We can go on and on...
This is just an education and clarification for worrywarts and proud ignoramuses who castigate everything including operational principles of fields they know nothing about.
However, those who are running commentaries on the office out of mischief, they are welcome, and may they be forgiven.
Tersoo Kula,
CPS to Governor of Benue State
10th September, 2023
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