The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has challenged the Nigerian media to report on the opportunities that exist in the country, while continuing to hold the government accountable through objective reporting.
The Deputy Speaker, who gave the charge at the inauguration of the newly elected executive officers of the House of Representatives Press Corps, urged the media not to focus only on areas where the government faces challenges but also to highlight the positives for the world to appreciate.
“Let me also say this. I’ve traveled around recently and had conversations about Nigeria outside our country. Two days ago, I was with the European Union ambassadors, and one of the questions they raised Nigeria is so blessed, so many opportunities; why is it that the analyses there are not projecting our strengths more than our weaknesses?
“So, can we write about what makes Nigeria good? Can we project the opportunities in Nigeria? Can we tell the good stories of what this current administration is doing? Is that against the principles of journalism to project what we have gotten right? Is journalism only about talking about where the government is not doing well?
“The consciousness of the people should not only be raised with regard to what is wrong. Can we also raise their consciousness to begin to see what we did wrong and what we have made right? That is a challenge to you, the new executive, and the members of the press corps. It’s about time we sell our nation for where we have gotten it right and where we are struggling,” Mr Kalu advised.
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Kalu described the House of Representatives Press Corps as the voice of the legislature and urged members to use their reports to promote national unity, cohesion and patriotism.
He praised the corps as one of the country’s finest groups of journalists and commended the media for strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy through responsible reporting, while reaffirming the National Assembly’s commitment to press freedom.
Mr Akin Rotimi Jr, Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, praised Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for promoting transparency and granting the media unrestricted access to House proceedings.
He described the parliamentary press as a vital partner in strengthening democracy and urged journalists to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, professionalism and responsibility.
