Indulge In Investigative Reporting Not Fake News, Nasarawa Deputy Governor Tells NUJ
Rabiu Omaku
Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe has challenged media practitioners in the State to embrace investigative reporting but not reporting fake news that may cause disaffection in the State.
The Deputy Governor made the call when the newly elected officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nasarawa State Council paid him a courtesy call.
Dr.Akabe tasked Journalists in the State to go outside the box as Journalism has gone digital making information more easily to media practitioners.
“This era where journalists can get any information they want, therefore practitioners must go beyond the initial information on reports by investigating more to unravel the facts”.
The Deputy Governor described Journalism as a noble profession, urging practitioners to adhere to the ethics of the virile profession by reporting issues truthfully devoid of any sentiment.
He lamented of fake news recently reporting about him over an alleged probe committee set up to investigate him over coronavirus funds
“I was the one that suggested to the Speaker on the need for the House of Assembly to set up a committee on COVID-19 being the Chairman of the State Task Force”.
” To my greatest surprise after the setting up of the committee Journalists wrote fake and sensational reports that the House of Assembly were probing me.
“I made the suggestion because the executive has a committee on COVID-19, the traditional rulers have their own and it is good for the assembly to have their own so that that we would all sensitize people on the virus,” the Deputy Governor added.
Dr. Emmanuel Akabe said that the COVID-19 committee in the State had publicly given an account of income and expenditure to the press.
He challenged Journalists to exhibit maturity by going beyond the conventional reports to go to every Ministry, Department, and Agency to find out whether how they monies are given to them utilized and not to report something that is not correct.
Dr. Akabe also said the Governor Abdullahi Sule led Government in the state was not afraid of criticism provided it is constructively aimed at ensuring correction for the overall development of the state.
He also assured NUJ of the determination of his office and indeed the state government to support them where necessary.
He, therefore, promised to donate two sets of table tennis, chairs and television set to the union.
Earlier, Salihu Mohammed Alkali, NUJ Chairman in the State, expressed gratitude to the Deputy Governor and the government for their support to Journalists through the provision of enabling environments among others.
The NUJ Chairman also assured the Deputy Governor of the union’s determination to partner with the government toward ensuring better reportage of activities in the State.
