The Kebbi Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe, has advised journalists working in the state to strictly adhere to the ethics of their profession.
Yombe gave the advice while speaking at the commencement of the 2017 Press Week and Award Night organised by the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.
“Journalists should continue to maintain that high degree of public trust. To earn and maintain the public trust, it is morally imperative for every journalist and every news medium to observe the highest professional and ethical standards,” he said.
He said journalists should also endeavour to discharge their duties with a healthy regard for the public interest.
“Truth is the cornerstone of journalism and every journalist should strive diligently to ascertain the truth of every event, and also be conscious of their responsibilities and duties,” he said.
Yombe described the relationship between Journalists and the government in the state as cordial, fair and free.
He commended the union for organising the ministerial briefing for members of the state executive, aying it helped in making the members accountable and conscious of their mandates and responsibilities.
Earlier, the state Chairman of the NUJ, Alhaji Aliyu Jajirma, commended the state government for its continuous support to the union in the state.
“We have to commend the state government for its openness to us and allowing us the access to information for public consumption and accountability,” he said.
He charged members of the union to refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading reports.
He , however, called on the members to continue discharge their duty in accordance with the ethics of the profession to promote national unity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Press Week is scheduled to hold between Dec. 27 and Dec. 30. (NAN).
