He made this known while inaugurating the new executive of the FCT minister’s Press Corps led by Ikarro Attah of Independent Television (ITV).
Malam Bello who commended the FCT Press Corps members for their professionalism and vibrancy in keeping the residents of the territory effectively informed on the activities of government, further assured them of his administration supports at all times.
While commending the body for the peaceful manner in which the election was conducted, the minister urged the newly elected exco members to see their emergence as testimony of trust by their colleagues.
By their election, the FCT Minister noted, an enormous responsibility has been placed on their shoulders, urging them to justify the confidence reposed in them.
In his address, the Chairman of the FCT NUJ, Comrade Paul Ela Abedi indicated that Press Corps system comprised the group of journalists that cover specific organs of government and beats.
While not part of the physical structure of the NUJ, he observed, they were recognized as a vital part of the operations of the union as they have been useful in the promotion of ethics and standards of the profession.
“We embrace them because they have made us proud. They stand as a gate to check quackery as nobody can just come in and say he is covering FCT administration, because already there is a protective group called press corps”, he noted.
In his capacity as the Chairman, FCT NUJ, he subsequently presented Certificate of Return to Attah as the newly elected Chairman of the FCT Press Corps.
Earlier, Fred Itua of The Sun Newspapers, who served as the Electoral Committee Chairman, disclosed that the electoral body was inaugurated on the 21st of July to conduct an election to usher in new Exco.
He announced the winners as: Chairman- Ikharro Attah (Independent Television); Vice Chairman- Umar Suleiman (Aso Radio); Secretary – Mitaire Ikpen (NTA Channel 5) and Assistant Secretary- Stanley Onyekwere (People’s Daily).
Others were Treasurer- Agnes Remi Johnson (Capital FM); Welfare and Publicity Secretary- Austin Elemue (Abuja Enquirer); Financial Secretary, as well as Oyewole Akintunde and Festus Ikpen- Auditor (Ben TV).
The new Exco members were sworn in by the Acting Solicitor-General of the FCT, Barrister Yusuf Wodi.
In his inaugural address, Attah declared, “I am standing here as Chairman, not because I am superior to my colleagues of the pen profession or members of the fourth estate of the realm, but within the context that they chose me as first among equals to lead in the all-important assignment of covering the FCT and partnering in the work of realizing the FCT project”.
He thanked the FCT Minister for shelving all his other important commitments to be present at the event personally and to inaugurate the new Exco.
“This is testament to the high regards the minister has for the media, there is no Press Corps as respected as this,” he noted.
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