Maccido To NASS: Make Media The Fourth Arm Of Government
From : Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi
The Chief of Staff to Kebbi State Governor, Barrister Attahiru Maccido has appealed to the National Assembly to enact and pass a law that would give constitutional recognition to Media practices as the fourth arm of government instead of the traditional nomenclature of “4th estate of the realm”.
Maccido made the call on Monday at the Maiden Public Lecture organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kebbi State chapter in Birnin-Kebbi in collaboration with the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment and Orientation.
The chief of staff said: “The role of the media in promoting and sustaining democratic principles and tenets cannot be ignored in Nigerian society.The media according to him played a vital role in restoring democracy in Nigeria, especially during the military era, an effort many politicians should not forget in a hurry.
“Many journalists paid the supreme price for the restoration of democracy in this country, therefore, the media should be made an arm of government constitutionally, not just the fourth estate of the realm.” He said.
Maccido commended Journalists practicing in the State especially the Correspondents chapel for its professionalism and adherence to journalism ethics despite numerous challenges encountered in their line of duty.
“When the All Progressives Congress (APC) was established in 2014, we found it difficult to disseminate our manifesto to the people of Kebbi, especially given that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled the local media then. But members of the Correspondents chapel supported us by discharging their duties ethically and professionally.” He added.
In his speech the State Commissione for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahed Birnin-Kebbi who represented Gov. Nasir Idris, said the present administration had continued to enhance the well-being of the people of which members of the Correspondents’ Chapel has been part and parcel of the struggle to entrench democracy in the State and Nigeria in general.
The Commissioner assured further that Kebbi State government would continue to commends journalists for their positive role in sustaining good governance and public enlightenment, pointing out that the administration will continue to support media practitioners to operate effectively in the State.
