Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

Oyo State government on Wednesday, revealed its determination to reposition the state broadcasting station, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) into a media and entertainment hub. 

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Olalekan Alli, made the disclosure while addressing journalists on the ongoing restructuring of the station, at the Film Theatre of Ministry of Information. 

Alli, flanked by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun; Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade; Project Director of BCOS, Mr. Yanju Adegbite; Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Mr Bashir Olanrewaju and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Print Media,  Mr. Akin Oyedele, said the detailed set of activities and implementation time lines for the restructuring will be announced soon. 

According to him, the vision of the restructuring of the station is  to make it the leading media and entertainment hub that propels the unique cultural heritage of the Yoruba to the global market, adding that it is also to create pleasurable experiences for target markets through the provision of exceptional products sand service.

He stated further that the business segments will include television and radio broadcasting, production studio services, theme parks and resorts, hospitality and leisure services, live events and a media academy.  

He said, "Some of the imperatives that government intends to implement in order to deepen and sustain the legacy and new vision of BCOS include the granting of operational and financial autonomy to the corporation; strengthening governance and management; commercial sustainability, encouraging partnership and alliances as well as legal restructuring to enable the corporation to take full advantages of public-private-partnership with the global organized private sector towards the creation of the leading entertainment and cultural hub in South West of Nigeria."

Alli also announced the redeployment of 144 staff of the station to other ministries, department and agencies of the government where they will be more relevant, stating that the deployment of the workers takes effect from today.

The SSG noted that certificates obtained and the experiences of the deployed staff have been considered in the deployment of the staff so as to make them relevant in their new places of work.

He maintained that the exercise is not an avenue to witchhunt any staff but to ensure restructuring, transformation and reorganisation of the station, stating that the process that led to the deployment of the affected staff was done in conjunction with KPMG which recommended various strategies to be employed in the overhaul of the station.

He said,  "By the time Mr Abiola Ajimobi came to power, BCOS was two months off air, however it became imperative to restructure. BCOS must survive in its own. When you go to Silverbird gallery, you will get more of it lying at Ile Akede.

"BCOS is highly strategic, nobody will want it dead, I believed that it will live after all of us in this hall. They are not only to give service, but giving refund to the government which is the owner. So we started restructuring, we have an over bloated workforce. 

"More than 500 staff, arguably the most populated media house in the country. BCOS has 513 staff, 70 percent are permanent staff while 30 percent are temporary staff. 55 percent have below HND. Only 35 senior staff passed the examination. The importance of the overhaul and restructuring is necessary. 

"Government has redeployed a total of 144 staff of BCOS to other government ministries, departments and agencies where their qualifications and experiences will have value beginning ‪from February 1st.‬ The posting and deployment is in line with public service rules. This is done to make BCOS as a national model and the one to be emulated throughout the country".