The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has charged journalists to
be truthful in their reportage of events.
The Governor who gave his charge yesterday [17-12-13] at the Opening
Ceremony/Lecture of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Delta State Chapter
Press Week said that journalists as Fourth Estate of the Realm have a
onerous responsibility to always publish the truth and what is right so
that the country can move forward stressing “that even if it is negative
but truthful, government will accept it and make adjustments.“
He reminded journalists in the country that they have a stake in ensuring
the survival and progress of the country, emphasising that “any action
that will not bring peace and development whether from the leaders or the
followers should be discouraged”.
While decrying the blackmail and deliberate falsehood on the training
programme for journalists sponsored by the state government early this
year, Dr. Uduaghan said that government sponsored the programme as part of
its belief in human capital development stating that “we know that your
employers may not be in a position to organise training programme for you.
We took up the responsibility to develop journalists in the state so as to
improve their performance. What we got in return was blackmail and
deliberate falsehood from among the journalists”.
The governor informed that the state government would continue the
training programme for journalists as it was beneficial for their
development calling on those who have not benefitted to be patient and
wait for their turn rather than take to blackmail.
Governor Uduaghan commended the Academic Staff Union of Universities
[ASUU] for calling off the 5 months old strike action. He also commended
the federal government and other stakeholders for their roles in ensuring
that the ASUU members call off the strike action.
DR. Uduaghan also commended the state NUJ Executive for the peace and
unity in the union and for learning from the challenges the union faced in
the past.
The State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Norbert Chiazor described Dr. Uduaghan as
media friendly governor and commended him ofr his large heartedness,
patience and forgiving spirit.
He stated that the union would continue to partner with the state
government in ensuring peace and development in the state.