Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called on journalists in the state to be good ambassadors by being positive in their reporting of the state.
The governor made the call when executives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade Abu Nmodu, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Minna.
He said journalists were also stakeholders in the state and, hence, should provide wider coverage of the activities of the present administration.
He also encouraged journalists to ensure they report timely and accurately to avoid fake news.
The governor noted the bad and deplorable condition of state-owned media houses and said his administration would change the narrative.
He specifically stated that Niger State Television (NSTV) will be rebranded and privatised to compete favourably with other private television stations.
While assuring the NUJ of his continued support, he advised the union to look inward and be more enterprising.
The NUJ Chairman, Abu Nmodu, had earlier expressed gratitude to the governor for appointing three of its members to serve in his administration.
He commended the governor for his support and appealed for more, especially as it affects the welfare of journalists.
He decried the condition of the state-owned media houses, requesting the governor to overhaul and revamp them for effective information dissemination and revenue generation.
Comrade Abu Nmodu also appealed that career civil servants who were journalists and qualified to be Permanent Secretaries should be considered for the position so that they can contribute effectively to the success of the administration.
The NUJ bestowed on the governor the title of Grand Patron of the Union, and the investiture will come up in October this year during the Press Week celebration.