Gara Gombe embarks on familiarisation tour across chapels’, media stakeholders
By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
The newly appointed Special Adviser, Information Management and Strategy to Gombe State Governor, Alh. Gara Gombe Ahmed Shuaibu, has embarked on the familiarisation tour to media practitioners and stakeholders in the information management in the state.
The new Special Adviser who is a sports guru had on Friday, 23rd September, 2022 visited the Executives of Gombe State Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) , Sports’ Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), and members of the Correspondents’ Chapel where he charged them on objectivity, balancing and fair reportage in the state.
The SA was received by the Gombe State NUJ Chairman, Sa’idu Bappa Malala, and later Chairperson of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Hajara Usman Leman where he explained the aims and objectives of his familiarisation tour.
Periscope Nigeria reports that Gombe, formally introduced himself to the journalists and discussed ways to promote partnership with the state government in advancing ethical and developmental journalism.
He informed the Unions of pen profession about some initiatives which he believes could move the state forward for journalism profession while recognising the profession as an integral component of his office.
Some of the programmes, he disclosed, would among others focus on mitigating deficit in public communication and to reinforce structure for information management.
Others are grassroots engagement in governance, promoting ethics and professionalism among journalists,
integrating emerging social media tradition into a reliable information system and developing reactive, proactive and preemptive measures in information dissemination and communication.
According to him, “decentralising government information structure to empower information departments in ministries and agencies to participate and capacity building among journalists would be topmost priority of his programmes within the short term.”
Responding, the respective chairpersons expressed appreciations to the Special Adviser for his visit and highlighted some of their major challenges which included exclusion of the NUJ in some government activities and relevant committees including Hajj Committee and other ones that require reporting.
The speakers pointed to the vacuum of employment as old members of staff retire and lack of enough training according to modern technology.
The NUJ observed with dismay that some staff in the GMC have been on casual list for years without being fully employed and none completion of the NUJ Secretariat at Habu Hashidu Housing Estate which is at about 90% completion as problems which the Government should address.
Other areas are faulty vehicles, and a promised bus to the Correspondents’ Chapel by the Governor which is not yet fulfilled.
The Special Adviser recognised the need for training and improved logistics and involvement of journalists as a measure to better public relations.
He assured of more engagement in more committees and policy implementation programs.
Shuaibu also assured of forwarding the issue of the promised vehicle to the Governor, while nothing that the faulty ones should be repaired immediately.
The Special Adviser concluded by affirming his commitment to serving the people of Gombe State and the assurance of considering all demands by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, which is the clearing house of government business.
The engagement came to an end with appreciations and words of thanks from the NUJ and the Correspondents’ Chapel.
Our correspondent noted that Shuaibu, had visited GMC Radio Chapel, GMC TV Chapel, State Information Chapel, Federal Information Chapel, Jewel News Chapel and NTA Chapel respectively.
