In a bid to ensure freedom of information law passed
by the 7th National Assembly is respected to ensure public office holders
are accountable to the people and access to information of government is
respected, the Anambra state government has expounded his administration
resolve to work with the media to deliver open door policy of governance devoid
of selfless leadership prowess to the people.
He assured that his government has remained one of the
administrations that has also taken into consideration of including media
practitioners in the programme of government to provide open access to
information about Anambra state added that his administration is willing to
strengthened the already established relationship with the media if adequate
reporting and respect for institution of government are observed.
Speaking to members of the Anambra State Online Publishers
in Awka, the Anambra state commissioner for health Doctor Jeosapath Akabuike,
assured the readiness of the state government to strengthen the already
existing relationship with journalists and however express hope that it would
be extended to the men of the Online Publishers, being the nascent and fastest
way of information disseminations network.
Though expressed disappointment in some media practitioners
who rush without crosschecking their facts before reports are published but
charged journalists to ensure they eschew derogatory reportage in the interest
of the country.
‘’One thing that is very shocking to us is that our people I
mean some media practitioners are always very fast in projecting derogatory
images and views, that is why a times when you see some people, they may decide
not to talk at all so that they may not be miss represented or misquoted in any
form.
So the media instead of being an agent to shape the
government becomes the one that is destructive if you people remember, that was
what made the late Professor Dora Akunyili to try to reposition Nigeria before
the entire world that we are not as bad as we are painted'.
He continued, ''This your association from what I understood
I know is something that came into that, that is why I say I commend you so much
for thinking along that line, it is because of the fear of miss representation
and miss quotation that makes people to shy aware from media’’. Akabuike said.
Doctor Akabuike however charged the social media
publishers to always engendered professionalism in the discharge of
their duties and ensure public office holders are not disengaged from their
constitutional duties base on wrong or mis-representation of
information of government and buoyed on the fact to disengage from the
relationship entered into with the Anambra state online publishers
if discovered it does not reflect the term at which he entered into the
relationship which is subject to secession when the need arises.
‘’My charge is that if you want to write anything about
anybody or institution of government, first read it again and asks yourself if
you are promoting of damaging that person.
In as much that I quite appreciate and I know the power of
social media, I don’t support or suggest the situation where people use it to
throw up all forms of gossips and all forms of careless statements or use it to
promote irrelevant information because I know that is what some people would
want to hear but I urge you to always communicate an information of peace and
ensure you don’t do anything that will project war and Anarchy and ensure you
occasionally do some investigative journalism.
‘I am ready to partner with you , I am sure there in no
union and no MoU we have signed, if we are getting what we bargain for I will
work with you but you must operate at a very narrow and safe margin and
decency, if I discover that you go contrary to the terms which I see is below
standard and see you would want to promote derogatory and careless
journalism, I am ready to break away ‘’ He charged.
Earlier in the courtesy visit, the Anambra state Online
Publishers headed by the state coordinator, Mr. Bamidele Ajayi had requested
the support of the ministry to ensure their operation is supported and
disclosed effort by the union to streamline operation of persons using the
online media to damage individuals and institution of government noted that the
union would serve as police to regulate online publishers within in state to
ensure ethics of journalism profession is observed.
He assured the commissioner on the union's resolve to ensure
non practitioners or willing members are compelled to instill discipline and
see that project Anambra state is portrayed in positive light to the
international community, owing to the fact that social media information
dissemination is an un regulated media but could be used to sharpen the society
and project art and culture of the people that would in turn
encourage foreign direct investment to the state and Nigeria at
large.
Nice step of the government...
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