Niger State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Hon. Binta Mamman, has urged journalists to join the state's new urban renewal drive through their reportage and advice.
Hon. Binta said this when she paid a courtesy call to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Niger State Council at the IBB Pen House, Minna, on Tuesday.
She said that through their reportage, they would correct many wrongdoings, and their advice would ensure that the government takes the right decisions.
According to her, there is no way that her office will perform without the support of the members of the fourth estate of the realm, adding that the essence of her visit was to seek their support, partnership, and synergy.
She assured the NUJ that the present government, led by Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, has the political will, zeal, and commitment to change the narrative and that journalists have a critical role to play by portraying the state in a good light in order to attract investors.
The commissioner said that she was working within her powers to ensure that the state-owned media houses were revamped and functional.
She said that the training and retraining of journalists, among other welfare packages, were critical to the functionality of journalists and would be looked into.
The Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Abu Nmodu, while responding, said that the visit was timely as the council was holding its monthly congress and highlighted some of the challenges facing the state-owned media outfits, including a shortage of manpower and obsolete equipment, among others.
Comrade Nmodu appealed to the government to invest in the media houses and to grant them partial exemption from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), as it was an impediment to their ability to carry out their statutory functions.
Other speakers who spoke separately included the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Aishatu Nuhu Yarwa; Director Administration, Hajiya Su'ad Lami Yakawu; and Director Information Services, Mrs. Joan Hassana Kpetu, who commended the commissioner for being the one who paid the visit rather than waiting for the NUJ to visit her.
They assured her that the NUJ would not let her down, as they would synergize with the ministry.