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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has tasked journalists to ensure balance reporting of the country.
Kalu stated that while the media criticize the government in the areas it is not doing well, it should also report on the successes of the government and available opportunities in the country.
The Deputy Speaker, who spoke at the inauguration of the new leadership of the House of Representatives Press Corps, noted that there are many good things in the country, which the media can highlight..
According to him, ” I have 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.’
Kalu tasked the press corps on a robust reporting of the activities of the parliament, noting that “I have always said that the parliament is the fulcrum of democracy. But it is your duty to let the populace know that truly we are the fulcrum of democracy.
“How? By highlighting how we go about fulfilling the mandates for which this arm of government was created, especially as expressed in Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution. Be it oversight function, representative function, be it town hall meetings, be it public hearing, be it core law making, be it reflecting the different angles of our debates, reflecting the diversity, the rich diversity that we have as a people.”
In his inaugural speech, the chairman of the press corps, Gboyega Onadiran,who was sworn in for a second term, alongside other executives said “In the last two years, the Corps under this leadership has worked harmoniously with the House leadership. We have built bridges, opened channels of communication, and ensured that the work of the 10th Assembly is reported accurately and responsibly. And we did this without sacrificing the integrity and ethics of the journalism profession. That balance will remain our guiding principle”.
Other executives sworn in included
Christiana Ekpa, Vice Chairman, Nicholas Kalu, Secretary, Saheed Badmus, Financial Secretary, Adah Onah, Treasurer, Gift Chapi-Odekina, Assistant Secretary, Nsikak Evans Udoukpong, Welfare Secretary and Tope Balogun as chief whip.
