Oyetola tasks journalists on ethics

• Osun NUJ Inaugurates Gov As Grand Patron 

Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has appealed to media practitioners to hold firmly to the tenets and ethics of their profession by being fair, balanced, accurate and prompt in their reportage.

Oyetola, who said this at the Dinner/Award Night of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, held at Leisure Spring Hotel, Osogbo, scored Nigerian journalists high in the reportage of the state. 

The Governor maintained that Nigerian journalists, particularly those covering Osun, have demonstrated the height of professionalism by acknowledging and encouraging good governance through balanced and unbiased reportage of his administration’s efforts in offering good life to the people of Osun State and delivering quality services across all sectors. 

Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Abdullah Binuyo, Oyetola, who was inaugurated as the Grand Patron of the Osun NUJ on the occasion, urged journalists to shun sensationalism in their daily reportorial.He also implored them to continue to respect their constitutional role as the watchdog of society while holding government accountable to the people.

“I would also like to place on record, the support you gave me before, during and after the election that brought me into office as governor. Of no mean recognition is the balanced reportage of the modest efforts of our administration to offer the good life to the people and to deliver qualitative and equitable services in all sectors in the last 11 months,” the governor said. 

Oyetola, who described journalism as a noble profession, tasked media practitioners on the need to always set modest agenda that could bring about genuine development and enhance good governance in the country.

According to him, the media is a friend of good governance, thus all responsible governments should regard it as an ally and relate with it as such.The governor said his doors are always open for all particularly journalists to cross-check facts and offer balanced reportage of the activities of government.

The state NUJ Chairman, Kehinde Ayantunji praised the support of the governor for the Union describing him as a man of honour and integrity who is passionate about the development of the state.He said: “I am delighted today that the Union you staked your integrity to rescue from disintegration three years ago is now installing you as its Grand Patron. This is a manifestation that reward for good deed is not only in heaven. You begin to reap it here on earth. No matter the challenges of public office, I urge you not to lose your integrity.”