The Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has been urged to partner with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to ensure adequate publicity for the ministry’s activities.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, made the call when the executive of the Delta State Council of the NUJ paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
Chief Ukah said as watchdogs of the society the media played a key role in publicising the activities and policies of government to the citizenry.
He urged the state NUJ executive to find ways of monitoring the conduct of some on-line news reporters who published sensational stories, as their activities could lead to lack of confidence in the union.
The Commissioner said the ministry had initiated some new policies such as the “Back to School Programme” aimed at ensuring that students quickly returned to school as they resume and called on members of the union to give adequate publicity to the policy when operational.
He promised to continue to work with the union to ensure that the Stronger Delta vision of the state Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, as it concerned the education sector of the state was archived.
Chief Ukah thanked the union for the cooperation and support he received from journalists in the state as Commissioner for Information in the last dispensation.
Earlier, the Chairman, Delta State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, congratulated the Commissioner on his appointment and promised that the union would partner with the ministry to ensure that its activities were well publicised.
He commended Chief Ukah for the steps he had taken in repositioning the education sector within the few weeks he assumed office, and urged him not to relent in his efforts at taking the education sector of the state to enviable heights.
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