By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
Cross River Commissioner for Information, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang, has described the existence of a symbiotic relationship between the State Government and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as politically sacrosanct.
He made the assertion, while playing host to the Executives of the Cross River State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, maintained that an administration like that led by Governor Bassey Otu, which runs a ‘People First’ manifesto ought to have its policies, programmes, projects and deliverables adequately propagated by an ethically bounded and professionally trained organization like the NUJ.
“Your visit was very timely. There is a lot we would achieve with the NUJ in the State. We need synergy”.
“Let me assure you that Cross River State Government under Senator Otu would continue to support journalists in the State,” Ekpang assured the NUJ.
The Commissioner charged journalists to continue to project the State in positive light, pointing out that inaccurate and faulty information impair the image of government.
He reminded the Union of the giant strides recorded by the present administration in health, infrastructure, education, environment, etc, barely seven months of assumption of office, noting that the Otu-led government is one which is transparent and poised to changing the narratives and taking Cross River State to higher heights.
He assured the NUJ Executives of conveying all their pleas to Governor Otu, while expressing optimism that the ‘People First’ advocate would exhibit his welfarist disposition by attending to the concerns of journalists in the State.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Cross River State Council, Comrade Nsa Gill, after congratulating the Commissioner on his appointment, said the essence of the visit was to strengthen mutually beneficial partnership with the government through the Information Ministry.
While pledging his Union’s readiness to support government in accordance to the ethics of the journalism profession, he appealed for the return of International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) to Cross River State to further strengthen information and communication managers in the State.
He also sought partnership with the Ministry in the effective execution of ministerial press briefing, project inspection, media tours, etc in order to disseminate accurate and balanced information to the public.
He also appealed to the Commissioner to facilitate trainings and re-training of information Officers as well as promotion of Journalists in government employ, whose promotions have been long overdue.
He pleaded with government to assist the Union with the remodeling of the NUJ Press Centre, and/or construction of a befitting Office to meet the standard of other centres across the country.
Comrade Gill concluded with intimating the Commissioner of upcoming media-related events, notably, World Press Freedom Day, NUJ Week, etc, with the induction of the Commissioner as Associate Member of the Union in the offing.
