Journalists in Plateau accuses Director of Press of unprofessional conduct
By; Buhari B. Bello, Jos.
The Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Plateau State has indicted the Director of Press to the Governor saying that “he appeared to us too busy with other official engagements other than that of media affairs, making the Director too busy to attend to media matters as expected.
“It has been difficult for members of the Chapel to get the attention of the Director of Press as government mouth piece for the fact that he has been so busy to pick his calls especially when we needed to seek clarifications on a story that is related to government”, said a statement signed by the state Chairman Aminu Yusuf of the Nation Newspapers.
They complained that Members of the Chapel have never been invited for any government functions in the state in the last seven months of the administration.
“We only receive government Press Release via e-mails of members after a function. This practice does not give members free access to government functions, government only e-mail us what they want us to report.
“The Office of the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity has not been made fully functional“.
They contended that members of the Chapel “have restricted access to Government House in Little Rayfield due to tight security check at the gate to Government House“.
Beside, they also said that if the issues stated above are not addressed, “the matter is capable of affecting coverage of government activities negatively and will not give room to journalists to actively participate in this government as the 4th estate of the realm”.
According to the statement, the Chapel strongly advise Governor Simon Lalong to realize the critical role of information dissemination in his government by ensuring he sets up a functional media team that will effectively coordinate media activities in the state.
“This has become necessary to ensure transparency in governance as promised“.
The Chapel therefore wants Government to ensure the Office of Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity which is occupied by a professional journalist is made fully functional in the interest of smooth Government-Media relations.
