Role of media critical in information dissemination ― LASG

Lagos State government on Tuesday described as critical the role played by the media in the dissemination of information to various sectors about activities of government, pledging its continued support for the state chapter of Nigerian Union Journalists (NUJ) to enable it to continue to perform such role effectively.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Folasade Jaji, said this while receiving the State NUJ team led by its chairman, Dr Kassim Akinreti, in her office.

The leadership of the Lagos State Information Service was also part of the delegation.

Jaji, who on behalf of the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed appreciation for the key role the media practitioners had been playing in assisting the administration to deliver its promises to Lagosians, urged them not to shy away from pointing at whatever they deem fit that would serve the interest of people of the state.

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According to the SSG, this has to be so because both the government and the media are partners in progress, and must stay together to serve the interest of all Lagosians towards the realisation of the Sanwo-Olu administration’ goals to take the state to greater heights.

The SSG, while expressing the state government’s support for completion of ongoing NUJ state secretariat, the planned community radio, which is to be sited at Badagry and its  launching expected in four months’ time, the career enhancement of public affairs officers in government service, among others, said she was fully aware of them all and would continue to render support for their realisation.

However, she urged the NUJ leadership to as well put those issues across to the new Commissioner for Information, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, to enable him as one is in proper charge to put them across to the governor and get his approval.

“All the issues you brought here, I am aware, you would have the support, not only my support but that of government,” she assured.

On the issue of delayed pensions for retirees who were information managers in government service, Mrs Jaji expressed surprise at the development, describing it as unfair and, therefore, the need to address them without further delay.

“On pensions, I am surprised that accumulation has been allowed. It is not good to work and when you retire, you have to be made to suffer. I think it is unfair. I think it is an issue that needs to be addressed,” she promised.

Earlier, the NUJ chairman, Lagos chapter, Dr Akinreti, expressed appreciation of the support received from the state government on the ongoing construction of the secretariat of the body, for which a sum of N25million was released by the immediate past administration.

Akinreti, who showed the SSG the extent of work done so far on the project through the drawing he brought, noted that as union believed in accountability and transparency.

He spoke about the need for capacity building for members of the union, the planned community radio set to be launched in Badagry for which a parcel of land been secured, the delayed pensions payment for retired for members who served the government, among others, saying it was important to let the SSG know about the activities of the Union “so that when the issues of union are brought up at the council she would be one to speak for the union.”