By PAMELA EBOH Awka

The Anambra State House of Assembly at its plenary on Thursday repealed the law establishing the state’s Newspapers and Printing Corporation, the publishers of National Light Newspapers.

The state owned Newspaper was few months ago shut down by Governor Chukwuma Soludo who described it as economically unviable.

About 200 workers of the corporation were penciled for sacking before intercessions came, resulting in their redeployment to ministries, agencies and departments.

The House adopted the voice note style which was conducted by the Speaker, Dr. Somtochukwu Udeze to pass the bill..

Recall that the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Ikenna Ofodeme on November 21, sponsored and presented a Bill to repeal the Anambra State Newspapers and Printing Corporation Corporation 1994 and to provide for related matters.

He described the corporaton as economically unviable, moribund and no longer fit for purpose.

According to the Speaker, the clause 2 of the newly passed bill states that, “The Anambra State Newspapers and Printing Corporation Law 1994 is repealed.

“The bill further stipulates the transitional provisions under which the Governor, at his discretion, may redeploy all the supporting staff of the corporation to Ministries, departments and agencies upon the commencement of this law.

“Pay compensation to all the staff of the former state corporation in view of their deployment and pay the staff their gratuities and pensions.

“The law may be cited as the Anambra State Newspapers and Printing Corporation Repeal Law 2023 and shall come into force on the December 14, 2023.”

He further asked the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr Okechukwu Nwobi to send the clean copy of the bill to the Governor for his consent.

The Law establishing the Anambra State Newspapers and Printing Corporation came into existence in 1994; and with this development, the state-owned newspapers and printing corporation will no longer exist.