FORMER CHAIRMAN of the PNG National Broadcasting Commission, Loani Henao, has said the government must investigate NBC accounts and management over the past three years.

Mr Henao, chairman from 2005-07, expressed disappointment at reports that NBC accounts were in the red’.

He said as chairman he had worked hard to put together a five year plan to upgrade rural and provincial radio stations, as a result of which the government allocated K21 million to the NBC.

Mr Henao said there had been reports that the allocated funds had been misused.

“I am disappointed the K21 million has been mismanaged. The money was used on producing expensive TV programs, trips and new vehicles for the management.

“It is proper that the national government orders a full investigation on how the NBC was run in the past three years. It is a shame that NBC has been treated as a government department and not as a corporate entity. ‘‘

Source: ‘Probe urged for NBC’ by Harlyne Joku, PNG Post-Courier, 7 June 2010