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Pledges to boost welfare of journalists
The Delta State government has approved the report of the state’s economic summit held last year as part of the strategies to boost employment generation.
The Commissioner for Information, Patrick Ukah, who disclosed this in Asaba after the State Executive Council meeting, explained that the state government would also review all activities of government so far.
He said that the initiative includes the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with both local and foreign investors interested in investing and doing business in the state and by extension create jobs and wealth for the people of Delta State.
He said that the construction and rehabilitation of roads in the three Senatorial Districts to make more communities accessible and ease the plights of road users was also approved.
In a related development, Ukah said the state government places high premium on the welfare of journalists working in the state.
Ukah, who spoke at the formal opening ceremony of the secretariat of the Indigenous Newspapers/Magazines Chapel of the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ), said the press system in Delta State has been ‘so wonderful’ particularly in its interpretation of government policies, programmes and actions in the wake of the nationwide economic downturn that has negatively impacted the activities of governments in the country.
The Provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Dr. Ignatius Ezoem, who was the chairman of the event, called on journalists to embrace professionalism and avoid the practice of ‘white journalism’ which favours blackmail at the expense of public service and interest.
Similarly, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Charles Aniagu, commended the Indigenous Newspapers/Magazines Chapel for enduring “a little discomfort just to get a more comfortable base”, assuring that the state government is ready to give listening ears whenever the need arises .
