By Olajide Idowu
Osogbo: Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has charged journalists in the state to be vanguards against fake news and misinformation as the state prepares for the Aug. 15, governorship election.
Adeleke gave the charged at the Government House in Osogbo while hosting new executives of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun Council.
“Please permit me to task the media to remain a strong vanguard against fake news and disinformation.
“As Osun is nearing a new election circle, I urge media practitioners to uphold professionalism and ethics of the profession.
“We must ensure balanced news coverage, investigative journalism, zero tolerance for fake news, observance of relevant laws like cyber crime act as well as state and federal laws.
“We have a duty to embark on voter education and campaign against electoral malpractice.
“The media should be the champions against election manipulations,” he said.
According to the governor, journalists are to expose rigging and activities targeted at subverting the will of the people.
“As the fourth estate of the realm, you must hold the three arms of government accountable without partisan bias,” Adeleke said
The governor also congratulated the new NUJ state executives for their election into office and promised to support the union’s programmes, initiatives and proposals presented to him.
Mr Adeyemi Aboderin, the newly elected Chairman of NUJ, Osun, who led other executive and union members to the government house, thanked the governor for the support to the union and media practitioners in the state.
Aboderin said that with the governorship election in the state fast approaching, the NUJ was seeking collaboration with stakeholders to ensure a hitch free and credible exercise.
The chairman also brought to the attention of the governor the plight of some journalist at the state Broadcasting Corporation who were employed as informal staff.
He said since 2023 that the governor gave the directive for them to be converted to permanent staff, they were yet to receive their letters of employment.
Aboderin therefore appealed to the governor to look into the matter (NAN) (www.nannews.com)