The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Delta State, Sir Festus Ahon, Thursday, charged Journalists in the State to help promote polices and programmes of the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration.
Ahon gave the charge in his office in Asaba when the newly elected executives of the Asaba Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by it’s chairman, Comrade Ifeanyi Olannye, paid him a courtesy visit.
He commended the Chapel for the peaceful conduct of its election, and congratulated the new executives on their victories at the polls.
He emphasized the importance of journalists in the development and progress of any society and charged them to always uphold the ethics of the profession at all times.
Ahon said: “You know I am one of you and have been in this profession for decades. Therefore, I charge you to always verify your information and get your facts right before going to the press. Do not be hasty to publish anything. I am not saying you should not publish, but ensure that whatever you are publishing is not just the truth but information that helps in the growth and development of the State.
“It will not be right for you to dish out false information to the public. You owe it to them and not just to us as a government to feed the people with the right information.”
Speaking further, he assured the union of the State Government’s commitment towards the welfare of journalists in the State, adding that the government would address, within it’s capacity, the concerns raised by the union.
The CPS said: “I urge you to provide the needed leadership for the chapel. The new executives of the chapel should work in unity and be transparent in all aspects of their leadership”.
Earlier, the newly elected chairman, Comrade Ifeanyi Olannye said that they were in Government House, Asaba, to familiarise themselves with the Chief Press Secretary, as he is also one of their own.
He promised that the chapel would work with the State Government in areas of public enlightenment and accurate reporting to drive the M.O.R.E Agenda of the present administration.
Olannye commended the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborewori for looking inward to pick one of their own as his spokesman.
While stressing that he would run an all inclusive government in the chapel, he pledged to work with the CPS in order to continue to promote government programmes and policies.
