The Member representing Bende Federal Constituency and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie kalu has called on journalists in Nigeria to avoid disseminating fake news and false information that will destroy the nation in their question to get traffic because, journalists play an important role in any country as Nation builders. He urged media practitioners to avoid hasty conclusions but work as professionals by making sure that any information being released for public consumption must have passed reality check before being fed to the public.
Rt. Hon. Kalu made this ascertain while addressing members of Online Media Publishers Association of Nigeria ( OMPAN) in Umuahhia, the capital of Abia state, when they paid him a courtesy visit. He reminded the group that, there are many good and positive stories to write about Nigeria, which can promote the country, attract investors but always projecting the country in a bad light will end up chasing away investors, Kalu added.
” Traffic you got from bad news will trend for the moment, but shrinks the confidence level of investors “But, even if you want to trend, why not project the good news”?
He reiterated on the need for training and retraining of journalists, emphasising that the era of ” Artificial Intelligence” has made it absolutely necessary for media practitioners to have zeal for new digital innovations.
Rt. Hon. Benjamin kalu said the ” Peace in South East Project ( PISE P) and the South East Development Commission bill, awaiting the signature of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when signed into law will both stimulate the South East economy, create employment, engender wealth and bring lasting peace to the region. ” Both initiatives were intentional as they would provide the needed template and stimulus to build infrastructures that will end the long Igbo agitation of marginalization by the region”
The Deputy Speaker, frowned at the media for not engaging the state Houses of Assemblies in Nigeria on post legislative scrutiny and legislative compliant, by interrogating why some of the good bills passed by the National Assembly are not being domesticated especially the laws that transferred from “Exclusive List” to ” Concurrent List “, such as the electricity generating and distribution law, the Railways, Correctional Services, noting that if domesticated by States, it would compel the Executives to add capital budgets on those sectors, that will stimulate all round growth and economic development of the states.
Rt. Hon. Benjamin kalu stressed the need to support President Bola Tinubu administration, who he said inherited age – long problems but doing everything possible to correct them, while acknowledging the sacrifices of Nigerians in this regard, urging for patience and promised to work closely with OMPAN for the good of the country.
Earlier, the National President of the group, Emeh Anyalekwa and the Chairman of the Abia state chapter, Promise Uzoma Okoro congratulatated the Deputy Speaker, for his electoral victory and elevation as a principal officer of the House of Representatives and seek his partnership to project, promote his activities and programmes.
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