The Government of Osun state has commended the media for their efforts at prodding governments at every level towards providing good governance
It has also lauded how the media had professionally and responsibly conveyed the activities and programmes of the government to the people.
This is as Osun government assured the media of its commitment to according its professionals the freedom to operate under a politically-conducive climate.
The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, while declaring open the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation workshop for broadcast media professionals and other stakeholders in Osun, also harped on continued maintenance of professional standards by the media especially in the build-up to elections in the state.
Egbemode, speaking through the Coordinating Director of the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Bukola Aderibigbe, commended the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation for the foresight it has shown in organising timely sensitization for professionals.
She urged media professionals to be wary of actions and inactions that could affect the smooth conduct of the forthcoming election.
“Let me emphasize that in the next few months , Osun will become the centre of attraction, locally, nationally and internationally because of the July 16 guber election.
“On the part of the present administration in Osun state, led by Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, I want to reiterate our resolve to make the exercise the best it could ever be.
“This, we will do by providing an enabling environment for all media and non-media organisations/ practitioners in Osun state and even those that will be coming from other states of the federation to cover and report the event.
“We are lucky that ours in Osun is an administration that is known to be peaceful and media friendly more than any other state in Nigeria. We therefore urge our professionals to also commit to high standards and be wary of actions and inactions that could affect the smooth conduct of the elections”, Egbemode said.
The Director-General of the Commission, Mallam Balarabe Ileila, represented by the Director, Broadcast Monitoring in NBC, Mrs Franka Aiyetan, charged participants to uphold professionalism in the discharge of their duties before, during and after the Osun election.
He added that adequate voter education, balanced reports, avoiding hate speeches and sensationalism among others are important.
Reaffirming the NBC’s commitment to protect the right of the citizens, the Commission also warned all on-air personalities to be wary of running foul of all the new guidelines as clearly spelt out by NBC, adding that any infraction would attract necessary sanctions from the Commission .
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Osun State, Prof. Abdul-Ganiy Raji, lauded the efforts of NBC to entrench a conducive atmosphere for the approaching Osun, adding that broadcasters are in a vantage position in the conduct of a free, fair and credible poll.
He therefore urged them not to be found wanting in this regard.
