The soar relationship between Kogi state government and the practicing Journalists in the state for about six years now has abated and improving tremendously.
Special Adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello on Public Relations, Ambassador Ahmed Bolori, disclosed while speaking at the Kogi state NUJ Press week grand finale over the weekend.
Ambassador Bolori noted that, the press is a major ingredient of democracy all over the world, and no government no matter how perfect or powerful can afford to ignore such an important ally in the development of societies.
” Media is very essential to the government and societies, in view of their roles as the watchdog, who have contributed immensely to the mobilisation and sensitisation of the people to understanding government policies and implementation.” the Special Adviser said.
On the theme of the press week , ” the electoral act and future of Nigerian democracy ,” Ambassador Bolori noted that election is very critical to any true democracy,and the press has a very important role to play especially the collation and declaration of results.
He used the opportunity to advice all cadres of the media organisations to unite with the view of forming a national umbrella to defend, protect and promote the ideals of Journalism and other related practice, observing that the National Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Guild of Editors and NUJ should have a platform where they sit to iron out the problems and prospects of the profession.
As a mark of the new understanding between Kogi state government and the NUJ, the Special Adviser to the Governor promised that a bus will be donated and the dilapidated structure at the NUJ Secretariat will be rehabilitated.
Earlier the Chairman of NUJ Kogi state Council, Alhaji Momoh Adeiza Jimoh, in his welcome address announced the demise of three members of the Union in the past few weeks, which forced the abridging of this year’s Press week program
While praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased, the Chairman of the Council, appealed to Kogi state government to pay their death benefits to their families to provide them succour in their time of grief.
He explained that this year’s Press week will not be different from the previous ones, as the Union has chosen a topic ” Electoral reforms and the future of Nigeria’s democracy “, that will provide answers to quest for credible elections.
Adeiza said with 2023 fast approaching, which is very important to the peace and progress of the country, the NUJ Kogi state Council believes that the consideration and passage of the electoral bill by the two chambers of the National Assembly, despite the contentious clause of electronic transmission of election results, is an antidote to various problems associated with elections in Nigeria.
To give insight into the whole issue, the Union has invited stakeholders from all walks of life to xray the topic and profer solutions towards strengthening the nation’s electoral laws.